The Challenge

[Stryder]

What ever happened to the whole clear coat powder challenge?

[GOD12A]

Heya there STRYDER!!

I just joined up, can someone qikly fill me in on the challenge please?!?!
I have had some alloy polishing clear powdercoated before.

Mark

[Stryder]

I just joined up, can someone qikly fill me in on the challenge please?!?!

Greetz. I've not been here long myself actually but it was in this thread:

http://www.caswellplating.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=1545

Basically one of the moderators in this (polishing) forum, tomg552001, thinks that any clear coat (including powder) will visibly dull a good polish job. non-stick, a moderator from the Powder Coating one disagrees and there was talk of a challenge.

I guess it's the nature of polishing a piece to want to never have to do it again so it's a common enough question and one that I don't think has ever been empirically tested.

[customandsound]

i got 2 fuel rails that i will give up to see if it dulls the polish .............the only prob. is i will need them back after the challenge they are the only ones i got for this motor ............if your willing let me know

[Stryder]

Wasn't me doing it. I'm guessing the mods will be back after the holiday weekend and let us know what's up. Sometimes it takes them a day or two to notice a thread.

[customandsound]

i will keep ya posted ...... i got a bunch of polished stuff they can pick from ..... i been polishing everything i can get my hands on .... from old nasty looking door knobs to copper pots .... i am new at this and i am enjoying my new found hobby that i hope to make some cash from .... i need to place a order to caswell soon i am runing out of the stuff i have ...

[tomg552001]

Hmm, this has been pushed back i guess. I and Russ are really busy, but i promise you guys, we'll have some comparisons eventually.

[Stryder]

Busy is good.... it pays the bills. I was just curious.

[customandsound]

let me know what the out come is ...............

[GOD12A]

Heya all

(38k pic downloading below)


This pic is half powdercoated (right hand side) and half polished (left hand side) aluminium. The powdercoating was done by an experienced mob and was layed on as thin as possible to stop as much discolouration as possible. As you can see even on theis crappy aluminium tube the finish is a little milky and certainly not anywhere near a good enough standard for any of my customers (show cars/bikes). The tube is just a spare chunk i had laying around, so it isnt finished to any great degree, but it does give a good contrast between clear powdercoating and bare polished aluminium

Hope it helped!!

Mark

[Stryder]

Thanks for posting the pic!

Two questions come to mind. One, whose powder was it? Not all are created equal.

Two, process? Maybe thicker would have been different? Temps, timing, etc?

[GOD12A]

Heya there STYRDER!!

Whos powdercoat was it?? Im from Sydney, Australia so none of this was done over your way!!
As for the thicker coating, we come to the conclusion that thinner is better for transparency. The thicker it was applied, the more dull it would have made the polishing look, as with any coating over a highly polished surface.

Mark!!

[customandsound]

that is not what i want my hard work to look like .... it is either zoop or carnuba wax for me ...........

[polishinginc]

Zoopseal wins IMO, this was polished by me and zoopsealed by me. The only "real" trick to it is actually waiting the 4+ hours for Chemical a & b to properly mix before you apply it to your cleaned part with a clean lint free cloth. IF not you will get a dull finish because the chemicals are a "lemonaide looking" mixture until it is clear and ready to use.

[tomg552001]

You, my man, do some VERY impressive polishing