powder coat or wet paint?

[crigisback]

Hi all I am looking at getting my cupra alloys re done and painted a different colour. I am just trying to work out what the best option is for durability and quality of finish.

If anyone can shed some info on the subject it would be much appreciated.

Also has anyone used any good companies in leicester or the midlands area ???

Thanks

 

[DanGB]

I would of thought powder coat as paint could chip.

 

[cheungy]

I would of thought powder coat as paint could chip.

Powder coating is the better choice...However it can crack and also if you don't wash it correctly it can cause the coating to bubble (wrong shampoo, acid etc...)

 

[Benjic2]

Pros of paint.
Cheaper
Superior finish
Easy to "touch up" if you should curb it. (Powder coat is hard to colour match )
Shinier finish.
Do not have to remove tyres.

Pros of powder coat.

More durable finish.
More resistant to stone rash/ chips
More resistant to scratches/ swirls when cleaning them.
More resistant to staining.
More resistant to heat.
No chance of drips in finish as it is statically charged to the wheel to ensure even coverage.

I work with both at work so I know a lot about pros vs cons. For wheels i would opt for painting as it gives a better finish, especially once it is polished up. I have never had a problem with durabilty either.

 

[Cuprarob112]

Believe me nothing looks as bad as wheels with a crappy powdercoat job (and the stuff can drip).

The finisch of a wet painted wheel look so much better and it can take a lot more heat if the car is tracked. Always funny to see cars with black coated wheels end up with black wheels with a silver heart after a track day.....

 

[crigisback]

I think I am swaying towards a paint finish. I suppose the finish is only as good as the guy applying the paint.

Thanks for all your help

 

[Cuprarob112]

Craftmanship is everything. By the way, if you use your wheels during the winter don't hesitate to have them powdercoated since it offers much better resistance against the salt on the roads.

 

[crigisback]

I think there are pros and Cons like you say for durability powder coating is a good choice.

If powder coating is done well it will look better than an average paint job I suppose

 

[Cuprarob112]

Thats correct and don´t forget that you can mix both. Some manufacturers have the complete cars colourpainted and have them finished with a clear powdercoating.

 

[Deleted member 53697]

powder coat everytime...

 

[Shinymoose]

I would disagree with wet paint being cheaper, all the remainder of the points are valid.

As an aside folk like Land Rover use (did anyway) powder on the lower range models and paint on the high end. We coat '000 of brake calipers, and find wet paint more durable in the long term, although some chipping can occur, powder is tougher, but once the finish does crack the water and salt will lift the finish.

There are a lot of two component finishes with a powder base colour and a wet top lacquer.

 

[Fishy]

No chance of drips in finish as it is statically charged to the wheel to ensure even coverage.

Thats strange as one of the better known companies out there have managed to create drips/runs using powder coat on one of my wheels! This was on their 3rd attempt at fixing the wheel though, and was the best result they could manage so now have it on the car.

Anything is possible given enough persistance.

Fish