No matter the vehicle make you own, be it a sports car, 3/4 ton truck, or a Jeep, we all know quality wheels enhance the overall appeal. In this modern era, custom-made sports and distinct finish powder-coated wheels are all the rage. If you fall under the category of people thinking about getting their wheels powder-coated, rest assured, you are in the right place.
This guide answers the most common question of all: what is the average cost of powder coating, does it expire, and is every type of wheel eligible for a powder coat?
Average Cost to Powder Coat Wheels and Rims
For most potential customers wishing to have their wheels powder coated, the most important aspect to have in mind centres around the cost associated with the service.
With the emergence of dip coating, “at home” powder coating has become common. Largely, these attempts involve using a Plasti-Dip spray-finishes which has been dubbed “at-home” powder coating.
Although do-it-yourself finishes can yield relatively pleasing results when applied to a vehicle’s wheels, they do not qualify as true powder coating. Real powder coating, in most cases, is executed by professionals in a specialized facility.
Because of the intricacy of this endeavour, a customer should be ready to spend a reasonable amount of money. As is the case with most services, the prices for powder coating tend to stabilize with the availability of resources.
That said, there is a rough estimate for the cost of powder coating a set of four wheels, which falls within the range of $350 to $700.
The least amount of money within this price range will cover the treatment of sedan-sized wheels, which require a single base coat.
Conversely, the upper end of this price range will cater for larger wheels that will have additional gloss or clear coats applied and are subject to receiving a higher level of base covering.
What is Powder Coating?
Powder coating is a dry finishing process that became popular in North America during the 1960s. It is currently the dry form of finishing with the highest level of demand and represents over 15% of the total industrial finishing market.
Aside from the numerous products that incorporate finishing in powder form, there is a growing market for it in industrial goods.
Several companies use powder coating to ensure a high level of quality in the physical attributes of their finished goods. This serves to enhance production, improve efficiency, and take the level of compliance to a new level about environmentally friendly policies.
About the benefits which can be enjoyed, powder coatings serve the purpose of both protection and decoration and come in an almost endless spectrum of colors and textures.
How Powder Coating Works?
Powder coatings are made of a mixture of polymer resin systems, curatives, pigments, and leveling, flow, and other agents. These ingredients are melt-mixed before being cooled and ground into a consistent powder resembling flour.
The application of the powder coating to a metal substrate is done using a method known as electrostatic spray deposition (ESD). Electrostatic charge is administered to the spray gun’s powder particles, and the grounded part attracts them. This method utilizes a spray gun that applies an electrostatic charge to the particles of powder.
After applying the coating, parts are put in a curing oven where heat is added. Chemically, the coating needs to react to achieve long chains of cross-linked dense molecules. These chains are highly resistant to breakdown.
This method is the most widely used powder application method. Additionally, non-metal substrates like plastics and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) are also used.
At times, powder coating is completed during fluidized bed processes. Preheated workpieces are immersed in a fluidized powder hopper, where the coating is applied by melting and flowing onto the workpiece. Depending on the mass and temperature of the workpiece as well as the type of powder used, post-cure might be necessary.
Regardless of the application method, it is evident that powder coatings are simple to apply, eco-friendly, economical, and highly durable!
Procedure for powder coating wheels
#1. Masking.
In this first step, all surfaces which require no coverage such as screw holes, stop surfaces, and other relevant parts are removed. The valve hole is preserved and used for earthing and suspension.
#2. Tempering.
The use of chemicals to strip the casting results in liquid constituents penetrating the casting, while sandblasting opens the pores in the substrate.
To mitigate outgassing and prevent the formation of craters and/or pinholes in the cavities, the part is coated and heated in an oven before coating at a temperature 20°C above the curing temperature of the powder coating for enhanced outgassing prevention.
Boundless conditions apply; however, lasting at least the duration recommended for curing the powder coating is generally accepted.
#3. Primer and Basecoat.
To provide the highest level of corrosion protection, a primer is applied to the rim before installing the effect-creating layer. Then, the second color is applied in the desired texture and finish.
In practice, the primer is only “gelled” (50-70% of the curing time according to the curing window) instead of fully curing before laying the basecoat. This increases adhesion with the following coat, saving process time as well as energy.
#4. Clear Coat.
Since the effect-giving pigments in powder coating are oriented toward the surface, they are susceptible to changes in the appearance due to abrasion or the use of aggressive rim cleaners. Thus, we suggest the addition of a clear coat layer (3-layer system).
Acrylic or polyurethane-based clear coats are particularly appropriate for the outer layer due to their good chemical resistance, making them ideal for high-quality road-washable and winter-proof coating.
Is Powder Coating Wheels Better Than Painting Them?
In nearly all scenarios, powder coating is perceived as an upgrade to painting the wheels of a vehicle. This tends to depend on how long-lasting the finish is.
Because powder-coated finishes are applied electrosatically, there is a strong bond that is developed between the coated and cured powder and the underlying metal base stock. This is greatly different when compared to paint, which only functions as a superficial coating.
In addition, powder-coated finishes rarely chip and are more resilient than painted finishes. This is critical considering the amount of stress imposed by being on the road.
Moreover, coatings are usually applied uniformly. Most people do not encounter challenges regarding discrepancies such as thin areas or visible marks. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for most painted finishes.
How Long Does Powder Coating Last?
Typically, the average powder-coated finish should last 15-20 years. However, they are subject to alterations from factors such as UV exposure, heavy wear and tear, and corrosive substances.
This number is almost double the service life of painted-on finishes, which under ideal conditions last 5-10 years. However, powder-coated finishes are still vulnerable to a lot of the same issues as paint-based finishes.
Over time, the wheels will, without a doubt, scratch and fade due to typical road wear. However, this type of wear is to be expected from all rims regardless of surface treatment.
Can Any Type of Wheel Be Powder Coated?
Almost any metallic surface can be coated with powder, and this includes nearly all automotive wheels. Steel and stainless steel wheels are capable of being coated, and the same can be said for aluminum wheels, but treating the latter surface does pose unique challenges.
Aluminum wheels require careful contemplation before being sent for powder coating. The curing temperatures of the applied surface powder exceed the heating temperatures of the aluminum wheels, which are considered for treatment.
In extreme circumstances, the Aluminum wheel’s structural integrity might be compromised during the coating procedure. For this reason, many designers void the warranty of aluminum wheels sent out for powder coating. This poses no problem for those who have owned the vehicle for a long time, but does draw the concern of those within the warranty period.
Beyond the materials of the rim, any rim intended for powder coating must be considered. This is because damaged or bent rims are notorious for being coated unevenly, which leads to a myriad of aesthetic issues.
What do powder-coated rims cost?
A rim’s coating price varies depending on the mounting position and the framework, the configuration type, including the texture grade of the upper part, the structure of the cutout shapes, as well as the price of the machinery, materials, and time taken to complete the job.
For instance, the pricing for basic powder coating in standard colors, which also includes preparatory steps, and a tri-layer finish, ranges between $98 to $130 per rim. In other cases, the pricing might drastically differ depending on the level of service.