Paint vs Powder Coat

[Russ68]

Hi All,

The 18" Vulcans on my S have seen rather too much of the kerb and I want to have them done before fitting a new set of tyres.  It seems my local specialists (Isle of Wight) want to repair and paint the wheels, and the one I've spoken too leaves the tyres on when they do it. This is not quite what I had in mind, I thought it would be a tyre off, powder coat job that would also address any internal corrosion (if there was any). I'd have thought that paint would be damaged on changing the tyres, does anyone have any experience of paint vs powder coat on wheels and am I wrong to be concerned?

Many thanks, Russ

[Russ68]

Exactly Jim, while I can't quite class the S a 'rolling restoration' she was a bit unloved when we bought her and I fully intend to get her tiptop over the course of time. Wheels and tyres were a known issue when we bought her and I see little point in the 'face only' refurb, I could do this myself with a can of spray and some masking tape. The 18" Vulcans I have were an option on the STR and look great, they'd be even better with a refurb and new rubber 

Is anyone aware of a mail order service on the wheels? I am not having much luck locally!

 

[Old Peter]

Hi Russ, 

I  worked in the Steel industry for the whole of my working life, and worked in Sheffield at the time when Powder coating was developed,  but the process was sold off as it was really too expensive to use on a large scale.  It is said to be better than paint for things like alloy wheels.

I believe that there are some companies in the Birmingham area who do a wheel restoration in which you send the the wheels and they refurbish them and send them back.  It is a bit costly, though.

I will look around and see if I can give you a website to look at. See below.

Regards

Peter.

ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHERS LTD  ---  FENTON,  STOKE-ON-TRENT   They use a courier service.

[Old_Growler]

You could try a local engineering company to see if they can skim the worse of the damage on a lave. You can purchase special wheel paint kits and respray yourself? Remember to remove the old tyre valve1st (you can buy nice stainless steel valves that bolt on) I doubt there be any internal corrosion unless you been using an old compressor with out a water trap, most on service station forecourts use an instant electric compressor without a tank, Mostly there just be rubber to remove where the tyre bead contacts with the rim unless run under inflated then your find dust. Any tyre fitter worth the salt would use a rim protector on alloy wheels or hand fit them. Plus if you really wanabe posh you can get a rim protector in different colours that fit between the tyre bead and wheel or purchase tyres with a moulded rim protector.

[Russ68]

Thanks all that's really useful, I'll consider my options and report back with what I decided :)

[The Jag Den]

Try this place a friend of mine had his wheels done here did a very good job of them

http://www.citypowdercoaters.co.uk/#!price-list/cwmg