Pre Heating

[oldgoat69]

I have been powder coating most of the removable parts on my Harley and they are coming out looking pretty good. The problem I am having is with the wheels. I have polished the edges of the wheels and have been using Caswell's tape to cover the polished areas. After taping the wheel, I pre heat the wheel to 450 to out gas it, let it cool to about 200 and then shoot it with super wet look black.

The tape has been baking itself to the wheel and I end up scratching the finish trying to remove the tape and end up having to redo the whole process. Can I preheat the wheel to 450 to out gas it, let it cool to room temp, tape it, give it another wipe down, and then shoot the black, or by doing this am I defeating the purpose of pre heating and out gassing?

[bzer1]

Pre heat let it cool and tape it. I assume these are the standard Harley cast aluminum wheels? I have done a few sets of these and had to redo every one. Not because of problems with the coating...These wheels actually come out great. It was because every one wanted to do what you are describing and when they were finished they all hated the way it looked. For some reason when you get em on the bike they look terrible with the spokes and beads polished. I did redo one with the spokes and beads done in burnt orange, and it came out looking pretty good.

[oldgoat69]

Thanks for the reply. The wheels are the stock 9 spoke Harley wheels. The parts of the wheel that I am polishing were powder coated silver from the factory. The rest of the wheel was a flat black and is getting the Super Wet Black. I somehow managed to get the front wheel done and it looks good.

The rear wheel is causing the problems. I guess that because of it's extra mass, I have to leave it in the oven longer to get it up to temp and the extra time needed is baking the tape. I will try pre heating first and then taping it this time.

[cdaeme]

The way I do polished wheel lips is mask with vinyl reminants from a local sign shop. The vinyl conforms much better than the green tape in this situation. I would then put the wheels in the oven until the powder flows out. Then pull them back out and peel all the vinyl off put them back in the oven and finish the cure. With wet black I have found it is much easier to let the wheels cool first before trying to remove the vinyl because the wet black will string out when it is still hot.

Jason
www.autocyclepc.com

[mtnbiker]

Most of the high temp tapes are only good to 400 degrees.
Personally, I never outgas with tape, always tape after the outgasing step.

[mtnbiker]

Originally Posted by cdaeme

The way I do polished wheel lips is mask with vinyl reminants from a local sign shop. The vinyl conforms much better than the green tape in this situation.

The vinyl stands up to the heat ok?

[tnc]

Originally Posted by oldgoat69

I have been powder coating most of the removable parts on my Harley and they are coming out looking pretty good. The problem I am having is with the wheels. I have polished the edges of the wheels and have been using Caswell's tape to cover the polished areas. After taping the wheel, I pre heat the wheel to 450 to out gas it, let it cool to about 200 and then shoot it with super wet look black.

The tape has been baking itself to the wheel and I end up scratching the finish trying to remove the tape and end up having to redo the whole process. Can I preheat the wheel to 450 to out gas it, let it cool to room temp, tape it, give it another wipe down, and then shoot the black, or by doing this am I defeating the purpose of pre heating and out gassing?

450 is to hot for the green and blue tapes. You must use the 500 degree tape when heating that hot. Also if you try to remove the tape while it is still warm (not hot or cold) it is a little easier.

[cdaeme]

I only leave the vinyl on until flow out. I recently coated a pair of Yahama wheels and I masked 4 times before I finally used the vinyl and all the other tapes lifted terribly and the vinyl was easy to form into the curves of the wheels with no lifting as all.

Jason