Wheel refurb - Powder v Wet spray finish

Wheel refurb - Powder v Wet spray finish

Author
Discussion

RichD1

Original Poster:

64 posts

111 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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Need to get my BM wheels refurbed, but do I go with powder coating or traditional wet spraying?

Everyone says powder coating is great until it gets chipped and water can get under it.


Richard

1986 Porsche 3.2 Carrera Targa Turbo look
2002 BMW E39 525D Sports Touring
1999 BMW E36 Sports convertible

tortop45

434 posts

159 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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Yes and you can say that about wet sprayed wheels to.powder is best .......

Refined Detail

369 posts

179 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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Wet spray with clear powdercoat over the top! laugh

waxaholic

374 posts

198 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
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Powder coat, i would'nt consider any other option.

7even

462 posts

192 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
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whatever the manufacturers use.

RichD1

Original Poster:

64 posts

111 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
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I have a TWS franchise local to me, I think they use powder coating but they do offer colour options so do you think they wet colour and then powder clear coat on top?

Richard

KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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I think TSW are a franchise so results can vary branch to branch but they do seem like a professional outfit.

I've used the one in Manchester around three or four times and have gone for either a gunmetal or darker grey. They've told me that they powder coat the wheels and the finish has been exceptional on every occasion. The one time I went elsewhere to save a few quid, they sprayed them and I wasn't so happy with the finish.

RichD1

Original Poster:

64 posts

111 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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Thanks Guys, it's powder coating then!

I'll speak to TWS for an appointment in the near future.

Chuffmeister

3,597 posts

136 months

Monday 26th January 2015
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From my experience, wet spray. Once the seal has gone on powder coat, moisture creeps in underneath and the rest will go. This will be more noticeable on deep dish alloys. I had them on my E39 and got my wheels refurbed twice; once with diamond cut and once with powder coat. The power coat lasted longer. I had my wheels on my Audi wet sprayed. Lasted three years and were still going strong when I sold it.

Quattromaster

2,904 posts

203 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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Chuffmeister said:
From my experience, wet spray. Once the seal has gone on powder coat, moisture creeps in underneath and the rest will go. This will be more noticeable on deep dish alloys. I had them on my E39 and got my wheels refurbed twice; once with diamond cut and once with powder coat. The power coat lasted longer. I had my wheels on my Audi wet sprayed. Lasted three years and were still going strong when I sold it.
At last someone who speak sense. Done right wet spray is the way forward, sadly there are plenty of bodge it and scarper out there.

RichD1

Original Poster:

64 posts

111 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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Now I'm not sure what to use!

Could I get a good finish using Wurth rattle can sprays?

7even

462 posts

192 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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RichD1 said:
Now I'm not sure what to use!

Could I get a good finish using Wurth rattle can sprays?
Absolutely you could, but its not going to stay like that.

RichD1

Original Poster:

64 posts

111 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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Not even when using their clear lacquer topcoat?

foggy

1,156 posts

281 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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I've had good results with a couple of sets of powder coated wheels and no chipping/peeling after 3 years or so, but then again no kerbing either so they've remain sealed. The main benefit for me is the ease of cleaning them - I find brake dust so much easier to wash off the glass-smooth surface of the powder coat with a normal shampoo and sponge rather than having to resort to wheel cleaner chemicals on rougher OE painted surfaces.

Just make sure the mating face of the wheel is not coated - this needs to remain metal to metal contact for trueness and good wheel clamping load via the studs/nuts.

7even

462 posts

192 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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RichD1 said:
Not even when using their clear lacquer topcoat?
No, its single pack, even chipsaway stopped using that stuff more than a decade ago. wink

Chuffmeister

3,597 posts

136 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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I guess a lot would depend on what style of wheels you're using. Powder will do an okay job in some situations. However, the powder only coats the metal and doesn't bond to it. Once the coat is breached, it is only a matter of time until the rest will follow. Two pack paint is usually best for a longer lasting finish.

swisstoni

16,855 posts

278 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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I was reading on a wheel refurbers site that when a wheel is originally powder coated it goes through a heat cycle. When the wheel is refurbed and powder coated again it has to be heat cycled again.
The suggestion was that the physical properties of the wheel will be changed by the second heat cycle and that's why they recommend painting over powder coating.

I'm no metallurgist ( no really ) and have no clue as to validity but I thought I'd throw it out there. I always thought powder coating was the proper way to refurb but now I'm not so sure.

RichD1

Original Poster:

64 posts

111 months

Friday 30th January 2015
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I'm with you swisstoni, I'm not sure which is the best method now.

Richard

7even

462 posts

192 months

Friday 30th January 2015
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swisstoni said:
I always thought powder coating was the proper way to refurb but now I'm not so sure.
Surely if it were the manufacturers would do so?

I totally agree the powder coat finish is a much more durable end result to we painting, but at what cost?
The process involves stripping usually with blasting and acid dip. I can see why time and time again on the same set of alloys the process may compromise the structure, especially on the newer "cheaper" alloys on the market today.


I run a repair company and gladly offer both services and recommend the process most suited to the application required.

RichD1

Original Poster:

64 posts

111 months

Friday 30th January 2015
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So what would you recommend for 1999 BM E36 & 2002 BM E39 alloy wheels?

The E36's have never be re-finished, but the E39's had two of them wet spray repaired back in 2003 after some minor stone/road damage