Mail order powder coating?

[xerxes]

Re:

I used http://www.senditnow.com/index.epl to send my bike to LSN: http://www.lsn-coatings.co.uk/90270/info.php?p=1 which is a couple of hundred miles from where I live. There were some places closer to me, but none that did any interesting colours.

I had to pack the frame myself; I used a flat screen television box and put the return postage labels in the box for LSN to attach. When the frame was ready I arranged for the courier to collect it from them.

Cost £40 for the powder coat and just over £30 to get the parcel there and back.

 

[Retro JB]

Looking good.

 

[gerryattrick]

Re:

I can understand the op being wary of companies that mainly powdercoat large items like gates, garden furniture etc. There are often companies that specialise in things such as motor bike frames, alloy wheels etc., and these usually offer a wide range of colours including metallics and pearlised, and high quality finishes (most also do bike frames).

 

[jefefelipe]

Re:

.

 

[TSP]

Re:

I'll have to keep an eye out for someone that offers a service like you say.

I don't suppose there is a guide or post that'd help masking a frame does anyone know??

Thanks for all the help people

 

[marc two tone]

Re:

I don't think there is a prep guide, but a competent/ considerate coater will sort all that for you.
It is a benefit for them if you wind some old rust canti bolts into all 4 brake bosses to protect the thread, a foil plug in the rear mech hanger(again, they should sort that) and, maybe wind some old metal BB cups into BB thread 2 full turns to protect them. Same for bottle cage bosses and where applicable the cable guide under the bottom bracket.
Any paint prep is a waste of time as they media blast anyway to rough the metal up for the powder paint adhesion.

The whole process is a good one, the extreme heat in the curing booths bakes all the moisture out of your frame, you get a rusty powder pouring out of the frame/ fork drain holes when you get it home. harmless.

 

[TSP]

Brilliant, thank you again for your help.

E-mail to SSS on the way

 

[TSP]

The powdercoating has commenced!

Has anyone got any experience with powdercoating a stem?

I'm wondering if the mating faces should be masked off?

Cheers all

 

[xerxes]

Re:

I don't see why you couldn't powder coat a stem. You would need to mask of the part the handlebar fits through and where the steerer tube fits through on a threadless type stem. I'm not so sure about a quill type stem, they are not a particularly tight fit, so you could probably have the part that fits inside the steerer tube coated.

 

[marc two tone]

Re:

Is it a quill stem?

if it's a quill stem...

1. remove the quill assembly. if it's the recessed type, with a plastic cap, just keep all that at home.
2. If the stem/quill has a integrated cap/wedge at the top, send the cap wedge too, or respray that yourself as it may get too thickened out with powdercoat and not fit right anymore. if so its easy to sand or file excess coating off to get it to fit again. your discretion.
3. mask off the paint line on the stem insert section, usually there is a distinct line of painted/not painted. work to that. and write on tape "coat to here". they will know what you mean.
4. the inside of the bar clamp/interface need not be painted, they will roll up paper and insert it, like a bar would pass through.
5. bar clamp bolt(s) thread generally escapes the attention of the powder and doesn't get clogged. don't run the risk though. wind in a similar bolt to sacrifice and protect thread.

All in, the decent coaters have done it before and sort it all out.

If it's a AHEAD stem.

same thing really. protect threads with old bolts and if you like, mask off bar contact interfaces. it just good old masking tape! can singe a little but doesn't combust.