1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Trouble With Powder Coating?

Discussion in 'Supersport (1974-2007)' started by Hejira858, Nov 19, 2020.

  1. Hi,
    Not strictly Ducati related, but.....
    As part of an ongoing (read slow) Moto Guzzi restoration project, I had most of the painted components powder coated by a well known firm in West Yorkshire. This was a couple of years ago (I did say slow), but the parts have been stored in my dry garage.
    However, on recently checking, the coating has failed on a number of the items - rust coming through on the steel, coating delaminating from alloy.
    As the parts have not been out in the weather at all, I would have expected no deterioration this soon, if ever.
    Is this normal/ to be expected?
     
  2. Evidence that the parts were not passivated before powder coating ? Not sure what to say as I use Steve Turner to do my wheels and a local industrial cabinet manufacturer for the odd parts. Steve only does the full monty, chemical strip, silica powder blast and passivate before coating. The local firm just powder blast and coat. The costs reflect the attention to detail. Before challenging the people who did your job, I’d check to see what it was you actually paid for. If they don’t routinely passivate the parts before coating, you have what you have. Andy
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  3. No. Definitely not if the prep has been done correctly.
    If it is the same well known firm as I think it is, they certainly charge a premium for premium quality work, so I would hope they should listen sympathetically and offer a sensible remedial action if you take them back, even after this time.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. Normal powder coating usually means "inexpensive" and can fail after time though not typically in a dry garage. Personally I prefer paint for the finish quality and ease of repair if chipped.
     
  5. This is who I dealt with.
    They have offered to recoat the affected parts (no apology though), but my concern is whether the recoating will last, and whether other parts are going to show the same problem - if so, defeats the effort of the restoration.
    At the moment, one could almost say that the notoriously poor finish on older Italian bikes actually lasts longer!
     
  6. Funnily enough I had several parts of my 1980 LeMans powder coated black and I had a similar problem after 6 months (although I did use the bike in the wet)......

    They all had to be redone and the company that did them (Crittalls, believe it or not) and it happened again.

    The specialist said that the parts, especially the 'tin' stuff appeared to have had some sort of treatment at the Guzzi factory.

    In the end I had the parts galvanised then recoated, but even that was an issue because galvanising does not like being painted..........fortunately the problem was not that evident.......loads of tiny pinholes where the gases were escaping from the galvanising.

    After that there were only a couple of really small areas where the powder coating delaminated.
     
Do Not Sell My Personal Information