Im taking my rims to get powdercoated on Monday but the guy there was worried about a clear coat or enamel that may already be on the wheel that may prevent the paint from sticking. For those of you that have had this done is this a problem.

 

Well if he's worried about it not sticking... he should be able to sand it off and do it right. It's his job.

 

powder coating does not "stick" based upon a paint or clear coat layer, per se. he can test this during the spray process and if it doesn't he can merely blow off the powder before firing it.

as you know, powder coating is not paint, it is a combination of pigment powders and resin powders that are sprayed onto any metal that can conduct electricity that has been grounded so the powder sticks due to static electricity.

when the rim is grounded, the pigment/resin mixture is sprayed on the rim as a powder and it "sticks" due to static electricity. the paint and clear coat do not affect this.

once on, the powder coat is then "baked" at approximately 400 degrees melting the resin/pigment mixture creating a paint like surface that is actually a resin "cover". the clear coat should not affect the process as the powder coating will cover the paint and clear coat as long as the rim still can create static electricity.

the powder coat adheres due to static electicity created by kind of charging and grounding the metal, the paint/clear coat has little effect.

 

^great stuff rite there. i didnt noe all that about powdercoating. thanks for the info

 

quite interesting, do you have pics of the completed rims? Please post....

 

Werd!