Prep work needed for powder coating wheels?
 

Just looking to powder coat a set of blades I've had sitting in my garage. They're pretty dingy dirty, but I was just curious if all I needed to do is pressure wash them or if I would have to bead blast them/ sand them to a smoother finish. I know that some cabinet blasting materials will actually harm them wheels so I just wasn't sure which route to go..

Re: Prep work needed for powder coating wheels?
 

Usually when you take the wheels to the to the place your getting them powder coated they will sand blast them but you can save money by doing it yourself.

Re: Prep work needed for powder coating wheels?
 

Well, it's actually a friend of a friend doing the powder coating. I've seen a couple sets of wheels he did but none of them started off in the condition of my blades.

Re: Prep work needed for powder coating wheels?
 

U mean a semi polished condition or are they beat up? Btw I like ur sig., I catch my brothers tow hook every other day. Pisses me off haha.

Re: Prep work needed for powder coating wheels?
 

I find it better to sand blast ,then sand them in 80 grit to take the profile down well thats what we do for heavy duty painting direct to metal or epoxy then paint.
just as good as powdercoating I think

Re: Prep work needed for powder coating wheels?
 

Haha thanks manm happened to me last year at import alliance. But, yes they were originally polished and now they're pretty nasty. They have some curb and they really dont shine at all.

I'll have to keep that in mind. Any blasting materials inparticular I should use? I hear walnut isn't too course and won't harm aluminum.

Re: Prep work needed for powder coating wheels?
 

Any time a media is forced into an alloy, damage is caused. You may not see any damage visually, but structurally there is damage taking place (making the upper layer of alloy weak/brittle). This is why most reputable powdercoating companies chemically strip alloy components before powdercoating.