Powder coat or paint.

[GobbleStalker]

So I am just getting ready to frame off the truck next month and am debating to either sandblast and paint the frame or sandblast and powdercoat the frame. Anyone have experience with the good and bad of each option.

Thanks

[GmcSS]

I asked the same question when I started my frame off. The response was Paint it yourself unless you plan on it being a trailer Queen. I use Por-15 on the frame after sandblasting, It came out great and went on easy. I would do it again.

[Southcity]

GMcss has a good point but I have also heard other opinions about both methods and I am sure others will chime in about this:

Powder Coat: Looks great, durable, long lasting BUT, difficult to touch up and can trap moisture and rust if they should develop

Paint: Looks great, can be durable and long lasting depending on what you use (POR15 is one option) you can do it yourself and it is much easier to touch up

Hope this helps

[OARNGESI]

I got some bumpers done they left looking like a 40 year old bumper should and came back as if i ordered a new piece if i had payed my self $10 an hour to strip and paint them myself plus quality supplies i would probally have even more in them the frame on my truck is painted but the frame on my next one will be powdercoated easy

[Valhalla]

I am in the same boat now. I have a local place that will blast and powdercoat the frame for 350 or 500 if I want a crazy color or hammertone powder. The POR 15 is very nice stuff as well and easy to touch up. Powder coating is nice and is durable but has its downfalls such as possible chipping/rust build up with no ability to touch up. I am still debating whether I want to paint with POR 15 or Powdercoat myself.

I don't know how much por 15 I would need but the ability to touch up is definitely a plus. And it also inhibits rust from forming.

[smn69]

Originally Posted by Valhalla

I don't know how much por 15 I would need but the ability to touch up is definitely a plus. And it also inhibits rust from forming.

1 quart should do the job.

[GobbleStalker]

I have heard the por15 also has issues with moisture buildup behind it? I was also thinking of painting the frame with a single stage black at one point. Could you not touch up a powder coated frame with paint though?

Kev

[SATownChevy]

i used this on my frame


before


after

[yote1234]

i made a deal with my powdercoater... one price for every part that needed blasting and powdercoating on the whole truck,brackets,frame,springs,core support,peddals...every thing!!! it cost alot but im very happy with the outcome..and it will last for??? a very long time!.very happy!

[DANTIP]

Not to complicate things, but I prefer have some things EPOXY powder coated like battery tray/support, core support, etc. This coating is very resistant to chemical attack and subsequent rusting. If it not chipped, it will look great basically forever. I think polyesters and acrylics are used for parts exposed to routine sunlight. Another consideration is electrical grounding. If your frame is powder coated, you must scrape the coating off below the grounding straps.

[1970 CST STEP]

i am in the same boat on what to do! i know powdercoat is more durable IF APPLIED CORRECTLY! this is the part that scares me, how long down the road do you get before you find out? i did a LWB with a product called DP90, that was almost 20 yrs. ago and still looks good, but has a dull like finish, have no idea if it even exists anymore!! i think i am leaning towards POR15???

[VA72C10]

I have heard that there is a way to mix something to touch up powder, but I just wouldn't trust it for anything other than a trailer queen. What do you do at all the ground points, where the lock washers scratch it, where the U-bolts scrape it? I imagine it will definitely scratch/chip there over time and lead to rust that will do nothing but spread

[Nsanehotrodz]

Powder coating will show every imperfection on the frame. I would paint it if you want perfection. DeWayne

[Mike Bradbury]

I have a really good powder coat company here in San Diego, that upon request will zinc coat it first then powder coat it. They are very good at what they do and I have chipped some products and very little rust occurs under the coating. As far as the grounding goes you could weld a S.S. tab or bracket to the frame and have them tape it off so that you could bolt the ground strap to it. They also do sell a poly urethane touch up paint for most RAL colors. I have not used the Por 15 but I have used a lot of powder and I would do it all again on the next one. As far as rusting and finish is concerned, it is all in the prep. If you just take it down "as is", then is is going to look just the same only black and shiny. But just like preping for paint you have a lot of grinding and sanding to do first.

[leddzepp]

Trailer queen = powder coat

Anything but a trailer queen = POR 15

[GobbleStalker]

Thanks for the input guys. I am building a show truck but a driver also. I will think it over more the next month and eventuually have to make a decision.

Kev

[BossHogg69]

I recently was in the same situation - I ended up dressing my frame with a wire wheel on my grinder and had it painted by a local shop here that paints heavy equipment and semi-truck trailers. It turned out great and only cost $100 bucks in gloss black. I wanted to be able to touch it up easily and quickly if need be. I am very pleased with how it turned out.

[Mike Bradbury]

Trailer Queen?? Really? Powder coating is what they do to dirt bike frames and industrial machinery to protect and prevent rust, it is what the industry has found works the best for the job. If done right will last years longer than paint with little to no maintenance. I wanted a truck that I could keep nice looking, but also be able to work on the brakes or the suspension with out looking like I just got out of a coal mine. I am a bit lazy when it comes to washing the truck every week, to be honest it has been about three months since I washed it. Nothing sticks to P.C. it is very easy to clean and keep clean. I just spray under the truck with the hose and wipe down. My truck is a Daily Driver but when I meet people who are interested in the truck they always like the neat, clean appearance of the undercarriage. If the powder is applied right then you will not have to worry about touch up because it's a lot tougher than regular paint.

[treveiger]

So basically both have there ups and downs. If you drive on gravel roads or parts where rock chips are very common i would go with paint but if itll never see those conditions i would go with powdercoat.

[cdowns]

i like blasting then POR15 and when still tacky sspray with satin black enamel for finished project

[BearFlagRepublic]

I had the privilege of my frame being blasted and powder coated by the PO. I can't say I have any complaints with it whatsoever, he had it done about 5 years ago and I don't see any issues or imperfections appearing at all. I am just happy it was done before I bought it!

[Allensracing]

a consideration for powdercoating..
if you ever plan to modify or weld the frame, or if you ever want the frame done again, or change color...
the powdercoating can be a real pain to remove.
yes, powdercoating can last for a lot of years. personally, I still have a 66 truck I bought in 1989. there are things I did to the truck when I first bought it and I assumed I would never need to do them again. guess what?
20 years after I replaced all my front suspension with moog parts, it is starting to get sloppy again.
if I powdercoat this year, how hard will it be to do it again in 25 years?
I prefer paint on my truck.
I will powdercoat my motorcycle

[JJorgensen52]

My Typhoon's frame is powdercoated, looks beautiful and is quite good still after 6 years. I have chipped and damaged it in places, and touched it up with a heavy duty epoxy and had no rust trouble.

That said, when I eventually strip the frame in my truck, it's getting galvanized and then most likely bedlined - a thick, rubberized coating.

[ripper70]

I used POR 15 on mine then coated over it with Chassiscoat Black from smae POR 15 company. They have epoxy coatings as well that are rock hard. Check out there web site www.por15.com.

[chewychevy67]

I used dupont self etching primer and POR -15 after having the frame blasted and i am very pleased. nice finish and easy to touch up. i've had to a couple times and can hardly tell where i did.