powdercoating question

[the_Journeyman]

OOh OOh

this is a perfect time for my much retold favorite engineer story

I was working at UMCD as a millwright

Myself and a grizzly old journeyman of undetermined age (guesses had him at 78) were dispatched to rebuild a 4 story lift.

when we got there, 3 engineers were standing there with fancy laser measuring devices, a handfull of plans, and literally scratching their heads

their determination was that the lift or surrounding bulkheads were misaligned and the lift needed to be completely torndown

the bulkheads remeasured

and possibly the floor torn out and replaced as well

this old millwright told 'em to piss off

had me hang a plumb bob from 4 stories up

loosened the 2 inch bolts in the floor with this giant metric adjustable he always had with him

hit the lift's main rails with a sledge hammer

and re tightened the bolts

all in the space of time it took me to return to the 1st floor

and the lift lined up within spec

The engineers left in a huff

Millwrights (esp ones that have earned the Journeyman cards) are handy.  I can't tell you how much money my Dad's saved me when I've had to fix something.  He always has a 'try this first' option for me ~

JM

[He Man]

I like that story. Except lets replaced that with a big crane, and see what happened. OH THATS RIGHT people DIED! Don't you just love when people die because no one wants to make sure. Why are you so uptight that I'd like to see some real evidence? Or are you that guy that tries to fix everything with a hammer? Broken wheel? HAMMER TIME! cancer? HAMMER TIME! broken bone? HAMMER!!!

that's why you haven't found an answer.  It's not right or wrong.  It's a crap shoot.  Hope it works in your favor.

Atleast someone understands the whole point of this. Its a huge crap shoot. and as Taft pointed out, plenty of people have done it and have not had any issues.  thats the best arguement thus far and the only. But...wait let me get my red pen out. hold on....

THE QUESTION STILL REMAINS, WILL THE PROCESS OF BAKING A ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEEL AT 400 DEGREES for 20-30 minutes CAUSE ANY CHANGE IN THE STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE METAL?

Answer: Hammer.

OUT.

[Oldfisti]

Dude you're WAAAAAAAY overthinking this.   No need to re-invent the wheel.  (pun intended)


It's more than "plenty of people" that have done it. Every auto manufacturer out there offering alloy rims has powdercoated them since the seventies. (with the exception of chrome or the rare exception of bare)

I would say the same of motorcycles as well. The stock Marchesinis from  my S4R are factory powdercoated.

If there was a metal integrity issue I doubt the process would be an industry standard.

Call a wheel manufacturer and see what they say since you don't believe us. Six pack of your favorite beer says they approve.

[He Man]

Already did everything you stated.
I contacted Marchesini(spell?) about 3 days ago and am still waiting a response.

It's more than "plenty of people" that have done it. Every auto manufacturer out there offering alloy rims has powdercoated them since the seventies. (with the exception of chrome or the rare exception of bare)

Although your statement is completely right, it lacks research. What I've read (again on the internet, so its validity is questionable) Various people have contacted a number of wheel manufactures and the company stated that the wheels are Powder coated before the tempering process begins. (again, BEFORE the tempering process) Another company recommend not powder coating because the baking could affect the tempering.

My question to you becomes, are you gonna say I'm full of shit, their full of shit, or your full of shit? Everyone seems to be pointing at me, when im outright saying i dont know, id like to find out so im asking around but Everyone here seems to know so much about it except the real answer that makes sense.

If you want to discuss this go down to Accessories and Mods. Cause this is just ridiculous here.

[Oldfisti]

I'm not at all saying you're full of shit. I, on the other hand have been wrong from time to time and could be the one full of shit. Can't speak for anyone else though.

I guess more than anything I would respect the wheel mfr. say on this.

BTW I had no idea wheels could be tempered after powdercoating. Assuming this is true could they be re-tempered after you get them back?

Just some food for thought...



see you in a&m

[Mother]

I prefer empirical evidence when available.

Lots of people have powdercoated their wheels without any problems. Therefore it is OK.  (I just picked up my Multi wheels yesterday from the powdercoater)

...and I'm an engineer. 

Yeah

but aren't you an exploding hills/melting rocks engineer?

you don't count

[Triple J]

Yeah

but aren't you an exploding hills/melting rocks engineer?

you don't count

Sometimes. Sometimes I design high pressure, large diameter steel/fiberglass/etc. pipelines though (nature of the tunnel industry). I also just generally think like an engineer...so I count. 

[ducpainter]

engineering students......

[Mother]

I like that story. Except lets replaced that with a big crane, and see what happened. OH THATS RIGHT people DIED! Don't you just love when people die because no one wants to make sure. Why are you so uptight that I'd like to see some real evidence? Or are you that guy that tries to fix everything with a hammer? Broken wheel? HAMMER TIME! cancer? HAMMER TIME! broken bone? HAMMER!!!

Atleast someone understands the whole point of this. Its a huge crap shoot. and as Taft pointed out, plenty of people have done it and have not had any issues.  thats the best arguement thus far and the only. But...wait let me get my red pen out. hold on....

THE QUESTION STILL REMAINS, WILL THE PROCESS OF BAKING A ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEEL AT 400 DEGREES for 20-30 minutes CAUSE ANY CHANGE IN THE STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE METAL?

Answer: Hammer.

OUT.

um, the lift spec'd out so that makes it a funny story, no one died, it's ok



I think the more important question is

will the baking process weaken the wheels enough that they fail

or

are they overbuilt enough that weakening due to baking is moot

I would say that 40+ years as a factory and aftermarket finish has proven that it does not

but again

i say enjoy because it is obvious that the process of finding the answer is what is exciting to you so have fun with it

I'm not judging you...well i wasn't at first

now i think you do too many drugs

[TiAvenger]

/oldfart

ahhh the ignorance of youth

/endoldfart

[Jarvicious]

Oh you engineers.

I have a really good buddy who works for Caterpillar designing suspension for their end loaders and moto graders who has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Physics.  I always say that he's never been wrong in an argument in his life, he's only slightly less right than whoever he's arguing with  .

Then again, I think like an Industrial Designer and the two professions generally don't get along.

IDer:  Here's this thing.  Look, it's pretty.  I need to do this, this, and this and contain this this and this.
Eng:  No
IDer:  Awwww, why not?
Eng:  You want the functionality of that in the size of this.  It's not possible.
IDer:  Sure it is, you just have to think out side the box!  Just look at the iphone
Eng:  You need to redesign your box to better fit your thoughts, and the iphone can suck it.
IDer:  Killjoy (mumbled under his breath as he walks away)
Eng:  Fruit

[ducpainter]

now i think you do too many drugs

How you talk....

[Magnus]

For the sake of completeness, I'd thought I'd post up on the results...   

[Langanobob]

If the powder coater gets the center too hot it will bring it out of
its T6 condition and significantly weaken the part.

I found this thread kinda late.  T6 heat treatment is a multi-step process that ends with aging at about 320F.  Whether or not heating it to 350F or so with uncontrolled cooling during powder coating for a short time will significantly weaken it I don't know.  But it looks like there's some logic behind the opinion that it might do something...just sayin'.

[Popeye the Sailor]

He Man-you're still a student no? Go ask the material prof. He *will* know.