A good powder coating firm for a frame?

[thornie1543]

Thinking about sending my frame somewhere for a respray,frames about 13 years old and i use it about 6-700 miles a month all through out the year as its my only bike and the paintwork is looking pretty tatty (these welsh wet winters take their toll don't they:),I,m looking for a bike specific place if possible so the bike comes back with all the threads ready to put mudguards,rack ,bottom bracket straight back on,oh and not to expensive would be good.Anyone sent their frame away? Would folks recommend powder coating or something else? Just looking for a good hard wearing,protective paint job and I really don't know much about it.Thanks

[chocjohn9]

I've just had my Roberts repainted here - (prices are on his website)

http://www.colour-tech.co.uk/

He will do any design/colour - which is a nightmare). I spent about two months thinking about what to do and I'm normally a decisive person
In the end, I spent a long time looking at new cars, finding a nice colour, I then went to the garage and took apart the leaflet, posting Colour Tech the page (the garage thought I was a wierdo). It came back spot on and lovely!

He did all the Roberts frames and back in the day some Condor and Thorn. Bob Jackson does resprays I think. I'm sure others will be along shortly, with more options. There was a thread recently about a respray in green... look it up and make sure you are not disappointed.....

[robgul]

I think you'll find that the post above refers to "resprays" and not "powder coat" as the OP

Given the bike usage a blast and powder coat is the better, tougher, cheaper option .... there's no problem with threads etc - the trick is to fit old bolts or short lengths of studding in all the threaded holes and a pair of old-style bottom-bracket cups in the BB - all fitted without fully tightening.

When the frame comes back turn the bolts/cups about half a turn TIGHTER to break the powder coat seal in the right direction before removing them. The powder coat man will mask the seat and head tube openings. The only tricky bit is the crown race area on the forks ... seek advice from the coater.

Rob

[PH]

Be aware that enamel paint (At least that used in the EC) has changed in the 13 years since you’ve had your frame. My experience of the newer more environmentally friendly enamel finishes is that they are not as durable as the older ones. There’s still plenty using it and those that are careful with their bikes are still seem happy with the finish, but IME it isn’t up to the way I use my bike, often leant against others outside a café, on the train…
At the same time as enamel has gone downhill, powder coating has become better. It’s no longer just the rough finish suitable for garden furniture, with a finer finish and better lacquers it can look as good as wet paint. Some very expensive custom frames are now powder coated, which gives some idea of how good it can be.
I don’t think you need a cycle specific company to make a good job, some of them will be dealing with items far more complex than a bike frame and protecting threads will be a common requirement. If you can, I’d recommend you find somewhere local with a good reputation and go in and talk to them. You may need to follow Rob's advice about threads, but others may want you to leave it to them. If you do send it away it'd be quite easy to spend almost as much on the carriage as on the paint! If you do want a powder coaters with a lot of cycle experience and don’t mind posting, Armourtex have a very good reputation
http://www.armourtexltd.co.uk/cycles/

[robgul]

Be aware that enamel paint (At least that used in the EC) has changed in the 13 years since you’ve had your frame. My experience of the newer more environmentally friendly enamel finishes is that they are not as durable as the older ones. There’s still plenty using it and those that are careful with their bikes are still seem happy with the finish, but IME it isn’t up to the way I use my bike, often leant against others outside a café, on the train…
At the same time as enamel has gone downhill, powder coating has become better. It’s no longer just the rough finish suitable for garden furniture, with a finer finish and better lacquers it can look as good as wet paint. Some very expensive custom frames are now powder coated, which gives some idea of how good it can be.
I don’t think you need a cycle specific company to make a good job, some of them will be dealing with items far more complex than a bike frame and protecting threads will be a common requirement. If you can, I’d recommend you find somewhere local with a good reputation and go in and talk to them. You may need to follow Rob's advice about threads, but others may want you to leave it to them. If you do send it away it'd be quite easy to spend almost as much on the carriage as on the paint! If you do want a powder coaters with a lot of cycle experience and don’t mind posting, Armourtex have a very good reputation
http://www.armourtexltd.co.uk/cycles/

With reference to lacquer - I should have mentioned that the last 3 or 4 frames I've had powder-coated were two coats - the base colour powder coat and then a clear powder coat .. giving a tough glossy finish - and I've also found that the powder coat finish seems to become harder after a week or so (may be something to do with heat in the process?) .... so a good idea to leave the frame for a while before re-assembling the bike. AND where are you? I can give you some names for firms in the Brum/S Midlands area.

Rob

[thornie1543]

Thanks for replies,armourtext look just what I,m looking for cheers

[Mick F]

Not much experience of powder coating other than one bike I had done.

I wanted to do up a Mixte frame we had and had an idea of a DIY job. I tried rubbing it down to get the existing paint off but gave up. I let my fingers do the walking and got Yellow Pages off the shelf and looked under "Sandblasters" with an idea to let them strip all the paint off for me, then I would sort out the new paint etc later.

I found a place sort of locally and took the frame and forks round to them, and it was only then that I found out about power coats. The chap suggested he did it and asked what colour I'd like. Red obviously!

Job was done in a day or two, and I handed over my £30 which included the sandblasting and the coating all-in.

I'd already fitted an old BB and taken out the headset cups, but I had to use a good sandpapering to get the seatpost back in properly. The powder coating had migrated a bit down the tube. I had to dress up the head tube too so the headset cups would go in, but as I'd fitted an old BB I was able to get it out and fit a new one ok with little difficulty.

All in all, it was a good cheap job. I concur that the coat hardens off after some time, and now it is tough and strong and wonderful. £30 well spent.