Powdering Speedlines

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

What's the consensus?

 

A metalogist friend says it does the wheels no good as the pores open up due to the 200deg+ baking temp.

 

The wheel refurb guys say they've never had any problems, with road or track car wheels.

 

Any opinions?

[welshpug 1,656]

No issues here.

[nick205 12 5 Cars]

Had a set powder coated and ran them on my kit car for 3 years with no issues whatsoever.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

The wheels probably see more than 200 deg from brake heat in use, so I can't see it being a problem.

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

I think you need some new friends

[stu8v 68 1 Cars]

I've seen threads on the net before about wheels breaking. Loads if piccies floating about.

 

I guess there must be some truth in it, well to some degree.

 

Bare in mind most items have a mechanical life, most teams life items such as wheels suspension parts if used hard.

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

It seems that wheels with really skinny spokes suffer from it.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I've sent a query to SL, hopefully get a response.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I spoke to a guy at SL.

 

Although a bit uncommital he doesn't see any problem with coating the wheels, as long as the wheels are in goog condition/no underlying fractures etc etc, and that the hub facia is kept bare ALU.

 

However, if it was his wheels he would opt for wet paint every time, as it's a better finish, and less layers are required.

 

I've been hunting for a few days to try find someone local who will acid dip, sand blast if required, and paint my wheels, but none of the places will do them without PC'ing them.

 

I can get 4 wheels fully refurb'd and PC'd for £150

The local painter wants £200 just to etch primer/paint them.

[welshpug 1,656]

less layers? PC is a single layer

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

 

less layers? PC is a single layer

 

PC wheel refurb involves, primer, PC, wet spray to correct colour, PC lacquer.

 

Try puting a bolt through a hole on a piece of metal that has been PC'd, versus a hole that has been painted.

Edited February 27, 2014 by dobboy

[welshpug 1,656]

Yes, i have worked in a powdercoating plant...

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

Dobboy, are you surgie????

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

 

Dobboy, are you surgie????

 

Surgie? eh? is there a punchline lol?

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

email response from SL.

 

Hello, thanks for getting in touch.

 

 

 

Good call on asking about powder coating as it can, in some instances, affect the strength of the wheel.

 

The problem relates to heat cycling. The wheels, during production, go through a number of carefully managed heat cycles ( including heat treatment processes ) that combines to make sure the wheel has the right material properties once finished.

 

Powder coating, post wheel production, introduces additional heat cycles to the wheel and in some circumstances can lead to a loss of strength in the wheel. I should add that this is not always the case, but represents enough of a risk for us to recommend against it.

 

 

 

Consequently we do not recommend powder coating our wheels during a refurbishment.

 

Additionally, any process that can result in very high temperatures to the wheel (shot blasting for example ) should be avoided.

 

 

 

We recommend that the wheel is treated in much the same way as car bodywork. Existing paint removed via a soft media process or flatted back in preparation for painting.

 

 

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

David

 

 

 

David Williams

 

 

 

SL Corse Ltd

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

There you go then folks, speedline covering their arse.......

 

Why don't you now ask him what effects a 600 degrees c + discs has on the wheel?

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

 

There you go then folks, speedline covering their arse.......

 

Why don't you now ask him what effects a 600 degrees c + discs has on the wheel?

Allan, Peugeot must have designed the wheel, hence SMR's versions etc, and the wheel would have been manufactured to Pugs spec "fit for purpose" (with a bit of bunce)for a standard GTI road car...25+yrs ago

 

You can't expect to put a road car alloy wheel on an F1 race car and expect it not to melt, can you?

 

I asked the guy for advice, he gave me it, and i'm happy with that.

[welshpug 1,656]

you know they throw F1 wheels away after a season right ?

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

 

you know they throw F1 wheels away after a season right ?

I didn't,..... but i can guess why.

 

How many yards do you think you'd get out of a 1.9 SL on an F1?

 

Point being, they aren't designed for F1.

[Mac Crash 78 1 Cars]

don't know much at all about powder coating but I guess if the wheel is in decent condition to begin with then I'd go for painting.... if the wheels are not so great then I'd go for PC which might sound contradictive

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

I've had a few powder coated wheels, subjected to heavy track and fast road use, with zero issues. As long as the PC firm is experienced in wheel powder coating and your wheels are in decent condition it'll be fine. No alloy wheel manufacturer will go on record saying "there's absolutely no problem with powder coating" due to possible legal implications, but the email you received does state:

 

Powder coating...in some circumstances can lead to a loss of strength in the wheel. I should add that this is not always the case,

 

In other words, as long as the procedure is carried out properly then there's a very low probability of the wheels being compromised.

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

 

 

Allan, Peugeot must have designed the wheel, hence SMR's versions etc, and the wheel would have been manufactured to Pugs spec "fit for purpose" (with a bit of bunce)for a standard GTI road car...25+yrs ago

 

You can't expect to put a road car alloy wheel on an F1 race car and expect it not to melt, can you?

 

I asked the guy for advice, he gave me it, and i'm happy with that.

Dobby, who mentioned f1?

 

Glad you've got your answer anyway.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

It seems that wheels with really skinny spokes suffer from it.

 

I'm pretty sure that materials selection for a wheel is dictated by its design (reflected in price) since ultimately the manufacturer (provided they are legitimate) have to comply with certain standards in regards to strength. For example my last cars wheels in the pic below had what would qualify as skinny spokes, but the design had been through JWL standard testing (wheels were Rota 9.5x17 ET12). I had absolutely no issues after powder coating them. They are a popular Nissan aftermarket wheel and a great many have been powder coated on respective Nissan forums, no one ever had a failure with this wheel after PC'ing even on heavyweight R32, R33 and R34 GTRs despite having skinny spokes:

 

 

If however you had unbranded "replica" alloys then you would have cause for concern irrespective of design, with or without powder coating, as they are made with no real safety testing in mind.

Edited February 27, 2014 by Ams

[Malc 45]

I painted and laquered 5 of mine for around £50, and a bit of elbow grease, they look superb!! Honestly you spend too much time thinking about things!! when's this engine ready to go in more importantly?

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I painted and laquered 5 of mine for around £50, and a bit of elbow grease, they look superb!! Honestly you spend too much time thinking about things!! when's this engine ready to go in more importantly?

Front and back?

 

Still a list of things to do yet....but hopefully the next drop will be the last of the hokey kokey.

 

What about yours?