Regardless of the type of vehicle you own, whether it be a sports car, 3/4 ton truck, or jeep, we can all appreciate the fact that quality wheels can improve the overall look. These days, custom-made sports and different finish powder-coated wheels are all the rage.
If you are one of the many people that are contemplating having your wheels powder coated, you are in the right place!
This guide will answer the general question of all: what is the average cost of powder coating?, does it expire?, and are all types of wheels eligible for powder coating?
Average Cost to Powder Coat Wheels and Rims
For most potential customers wanting to have wheels powder-coated, probably the most significant consideration to have in mind is the cost.
With the rise of dip coating, powder coating at “home” has become fairly common. In general, they most often consist of a few attempts to do so, utilizing a Plasti-Dip spray finish, which is often labeled “at-home” powder coating.
Although “do-it-yourself” finishes can provide reasonably pleasing results when used on a vehicle’s wheels, they are not true powder-coated. True powder coating is typically performed by a professional in a specialized facility.
Due to the overall complexity of this type of undertaking, a customer should expect to pay quite a bit of money. Like many things, prices typically level out when resources are more plentiful. That said, you can expect a cost for powder coating a set of four wheels, around $350 to $700.
The low price point will include the processing of sedan wheels as they require only a single base coat.
The high price point will provide larger wheels with gloss or clear coats on top of a much better coverage base.
What is Powder Coating?
Powder coating is a dry finishing process that began to be accepted in North America in the 1960s. Today it is the most accepted dry finishing process and accounts for over 15% of the industrial finishing market.
Aside from the many things that have some powder coating as a finishing operation, the market for it in industrial items is increasing.
Out of several product companies which use powder coating, they view it as providing a high-quality product with respect to the finish in terms of performance. The goal of many of these companies is to improve operating efficiencies and compliance levels concerning the environmentally friendly aspects of their corporate responsibility.
As to the benefits of powder coatings, they are used for both protection and decorative purposes, and they can be made in an almost endless variety of colors and finishes.
How Powder Coating Works?
Powder coatings are composed of a mixture of polymer resin systems, curatives, pigments, leveling, flow, and other agents. These ingredients are melt-mixed and then cooled and ground to yield a consistent flour-like powder.
The powder coating is applied to the metal substrate by a process called electrostatic spray deposition (ESD). The powder particles in the spray gun are given a voltage charge and the grounded part attracts the charged powder. The ESD process relies on a spray gun that imposes an electrostatic charge on the powder particles.
The parts are cured in a curing oven after being coated. Heat must be used to create a chemical reaction in the coating that creates a long chain of cross-linked, dense molecules. These long chains are resistant to breaking down.
This is the most common powder application method although non-metal substrates such as plastics and medium density fiberboard (MDF) are also employed.
Sometimes powder coating is applied through fluidized bed processes. The work pieces are preheated and then submerged into a fluidized powder hopper where the coating can be applied through melting and flowing onto the work piece. A post-cure may be necessary, depending on the mass and temperature of the workpiece, and the type of powder used.
Regardless of the application method, it is clear that powder coatings are easy to apply, environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and extremely durable!
Procedure for powder coating wheels
#1. Masking.
The first step is to mask all surfaces that do not need to be coated such as screw holes, stop surfaces and anything else relevant. The valve hole is left intact to allow for earthing and suspension.
#2. Tempering.
The application of chemicals to remove the casting allows for liquid constituents to permeate the casting. In contrast, sandblasting does not retain contaminants after blasting, although it will open the surface pores in the substrate.
To avoid outgassing and prevent the development of craters and/or pinholes in the cavities, the part will be pre-coated and placed in an oven before coating at a temperature 20°C above the heat-cure at which the powder coating will cure, limiting outgassing and therefore outgassing defects.
There are no limits to the conditions; however, as a general rule, when it is finished “anywhere from the time it should be cured,” it will be acceptable.
#3. Primer and Basecoat.
Where possible, the highest level of corrosion protection is accomplished by priming the rim before applying the layer that creates the effect. After priming, the second colour is applied in the desired texture and finish.
In practice, the primer is only “gelled” (when placed in accordance with the curing time with 50 – 70% of the curing window) rather than being fully cured, before applying the basecoat.
This ensures that there is a stronger adhesion with the following coat of the substrate, reduces the process time, and subsequently reduces the energy consumed during manufacturing.
#4. Clear Coat.
As the pigments covered by the powder coating system are oriented toward the surface, wearing or the use of aggressive rim cleaners produces wear and ultimately appearance changes. Therefore, we suggest a clear coat be applied, thereby having a three-layer system in place.
Acrylic or polyurethane-based clear coats are especially suitable coatings for the outer layer because they excel in both chemical resistance, high-quality, and road-washable, while winter-proof coating.
Is Powder Coating Wheels Better Than Painting Them?
In nearly every circumstance, powder coating is viewed as an improvement from the painted wheels of a vehicle. This usually depends on how long-lasting a finish is.
Powder-coated finishes are electrically applied and create a solid bond between the cured powder and the base stock metal. Paint is only a surface covering, which is vastly different. Powder-coated finishes do not chip, and are tougher than painted finishes, which must be aware of the amount of stress of being driven on roads.
Coatings also are applied more uniformly. Few will complain about inconsistencies such as thin areas or visible imprints. You don’t hear that with most painted finishes.
How Long Does Powder Coating Last?
The average powder-coated finish should last 15-20 years, but can be impacted by factors such as exposure to UV, heavy use, or corrosiveness.
This number is nearly double the service life of painted-on finishes, which under ideal conditions would be 5-10 years.
However, powder-coated finishes are not immune to many of the same issues as paint-based finishes.
Over time, scratches and fade to the wheels will, without a doubt, happen because of ordinary road wear. However, that type of wear is to be expected for all rims regardless of surface treatment.
Can Any Type of Wheel Be Powder Coated?
Almost all metal surfaces can be powder coated, including a majority of automotive wheels. Steel and stainless wheels can be powder coated; the same can be said for aluminum wheels, but they offer unique challenges when treating that surface.
There are questions to consider when treating aluminum wheels before sending them out for powder coating. The temperatures for the curing of the applied surface powder exceed the heating temperature of the aluminum wheels when transformed for treatment.
Under extreme conditions, the aluminum wheel structure’s integrity may be destroyed under the coating process. Because of this, many design firms maintain a void of warranty on aluminum wheels sent out for powder coating. This should not present a problem to those who have owned the car for an extended time, but presents problems to owners who are within the warranty period.
Aside from the rim materials, any rim designated for powder coating must be an undamaged consideration. This is because damaged and bent rims tend to have a less even coating which can result in a variety of aesthetic problems.
What do powder-coated rims cost?
The cost of powder coating a rim varies by the mounting location and the framework, type of configuration, to include the texture quality of the top layer, the configuration of the cut out shapes and account for all the costs of machinery, materials, and manhours.
For example, to powder coat a rim in basic colors under normal circumstances of company provided preparation steps, and all powder with a tri-layer finish should range between $98 to $130 each rim. For other conditions, their cost may vary severely depending upon the level of service provided.