Can you powder coat aluminium?

[CTrickle]

I have a Caterham with a standard silver polished aluminium screen surround.

I'd like to turn this black and am planning to powder coat it. Is this possible or will the temperature damage it?

[andyiley]

You should be fine, but check with the powder coaters first.

[Megaflow]

Yes you can. I have had aluminium parts down to ~2mm thick coated before.

A coat of etch primer before hand always helps.

[CTrickle]

Brilliant, thank you!

[andypocock]

You could think about having it anodised black. Keeps everything exactly the same size. Powder coating can be thick enough to interfere with re-assembly and there is nothing worse than having to grind off your freshly applied coating to get the parts to go back together.

Andy

[mph1977]

andypocock said:

You could think about having it anodised black. Keeps everything exactly the same size. Powder coating can be thick enough to interfere with re-assembly and there is nothing worse than having to grind off your freshly applied coating to get the parts to go back together.

Andy

that would be my thoughts on the subject as well.

[CTrickle]

Right, I totally agree with the anodizing. Why I ever thought of powder coating I'll never know.

With the extra layer of powder the screen would never fit back in the frame as its a really tight fit.

I shall have a look for 'annodizers' in the Suffolk area!

Thank you for all the comments.