Question for Powder Coaters
 

What should I tell the guys at the powder coat shop about how to keep the " corvette" clean when coating the calipers?
Can they tape off or do they scrape or sand later?

I don't know how to break this to you, but they will be taking the calipers off the car to powder coat them.

<<EDIT>> Just read your post again - YOU MEAN THE LETTERS, don't you? I thought you meant the car. Boy, do I feel stupid?

I'm guessing they will sand them down. Coincidentally, I just painted mine today. I scraped the paint off with a razor blade, then sanded them lightly with 400 grit sandpaper.

I haven't powdercoated mine yet, just got it last week. But when I do ( I have a small powdercoating shop in my garage, and I ) I plan on coating them in the chosen color, sanding off the powder from the corvette logo and then recoating them with a high gloss clear.

The true powder coating process requires you to apply the static charged powder and then bake the part at 400 degrees until the powder flows out. The calipers need to be void of any parts that can't withstand being in an oven or under heat lamps for the required time at that temp.

which basically just means they need to be off the car, pads removed, and thoroughly cleaned of all brake fluid, inside and out. The seals will be fine, as they reach temperatures well above powdercoat curing temps. I've powdercoated about 20 sets of brakes without any problems.

Which powder coat gun do you have? Mine is from Ecklers.

started with the eastwood hobby gun and moved up to the eastwood pro a few months ago. I really like the adjustable voltage and quick cleanup. :thumbs:

Has any had any experience with low temp UV hardened powder coating processs yet? They can do MDF and some woods now. I'd love to be able to do this without an oven!

Where can I find out more about powder coating, it looks like fun and could save me a ton of $$. Any web forums / resources?

http://forum.eastwood.com/ is a great forum for anything to do with restoration, I go by 2003z there.

Hmmm, dead silence.

I'm just reading trying to get smart. Do you think if I got the powder coat gun I could do a excellent job on some wheels? I am THE most picky person I know and it would kill me to have a flaw in a wheel, what are the chances of a even error free black powder coat on four wheels for a noob?

yes you could, with a little practice. The hardest part will be finding a used oven that can fit your wheels, assuming you are talking about big ones. Mine can just barely fit an 18, and I have to have the door cracked a little and sealed with aluminum foil. Here are some black ones I did for a G35
http://www.350zfrenzy.com/gallery/da..._installed.jpg
http://www.350zfrenzy.com/gallery/da...ck_wheel_2.jpg

That's exactally the look I am after. How does the finish hold up to a tire changer?

I came about "this" close to buying a G35! Very nice ride!

They held up fine. Powdercoat is pretty tough stuff.

I've understood that there is some kind of special tape that can be carefully applied and withstand the over; used for specialty projects such as this. True?

true