kyle88transam

I have an idea for my gta wheels, but I'm not sure how it would look. I was thinking about getting the centers powdercoated in black chrome and leaving the polished lip. Anyone have any pics or thoughts on my idea?

88blkiroc

could be cool, do it and lets find out.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

The centers on our cars are a black plastic. How are you going to powder coat plastic?

Xophertony

here is an example of black chrome powdercoat. these are n90 formula wheels but you get the idea. this is also a good example of how to win best in show "1980-present" at your local car show.

this car belongs to "chevymad", he powdercoated the wheels himself.

kyle88transam

Very carefully.....no I was talking about the black center of my wheels and not the centercaps, but I did word it kinda wierd.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Its not that hard

A member of the local club coats plastic quite often (LS1 parts/intakes)

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Not possible....Yes, you can coat plastics with SOMETHING, but NOT a powder coat. That requires a magnetic field./attraction.

deadbird

Possible.

Certain plastics (the centercaps happen to be one type) can take a heating temp to around 300-350 degrees. Powder will start to flow around 180. If you heat the part close to 200, it will stick. You can powdercoat wood or glass in the same fashion. There are also lower cure temp powders far temprature sensitive parts, not as durable but, it's out there.
Preheating the part also helps overcome the 'birdcage' effect in tight areas where the field cancels and the powder will not have the static attraction (the serpentine brackets cause this problem quite well).

But, this isn't a post about what can and can't be powdercoated.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

True, but it started as "powder coat my centers" which are plastic, not metal.

And while they may be able to be heated to the needed "melt" temp, powder coat will not stick to plastic, as it is magnetically attracted, to the part to be coated, as it will just fly off the plastic piece, and not stick, just than it just happens to land there, unevenly.

K-dawg

Just to clear this up again he said the center of the wheel, not the center cap which seems to be a very easy to make assumptions now back to the I think it would definently be something you won't see every day

deadbird

Those would be center caps. Doesn't matter though.

It's eletrostatic charge, not magnatism.

Anyways..
The black chrome I have reminds me of a darker gunmetalgrey. Could just be the powder I have too.
The polished lip looks very sharp on GTA wheels with the center a dark color. ..

K-dawg

so are you telling me the mesh portion of those wheels are a plastic center cap?

deadbird

I was replying to Stephens last post. I was just slower on answering.
It's been a long day...

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

No, they are metal.

Just some seem to think, that powder coating can be done to the plastic center caps. Electromagnetic, flows positive to negative, which won't exist in plastic. Go ask a powder coater. Next you'll be saying, plastics can be anodized.

I give up with the education process. Some people just can't be taught, I guess...

K-dawg

sorry we seem to have had a break down in comunictation, I believe the "centers ARE the mesh metal portino that are being debated here, the center cap stuff has no reason for being in the thread now that that has been straightened out

88blkiroc

Wrong, its an electrostatic charge, not magnetic. The part you want to coat is grounded and the powder gets a negative charge coming out of the gun which attracts it to the part. Magnetism has nothing to do with it. Plastic can take a static charge so there might be a way to powder coat it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_coating this might help you to understand better.

They are talking about the plastic center caps that go over the hub, not the mesh part. That part is metal.

deadbird

I do powdercoating.
Back to the topic, please.

kyle88transam

I am talking about the black mesh part of the wheel itself not the centercaps. Has anyone ever seen gta wheels done this way?

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

Isn't the pic that deadbird posted somewhat close to what you are going for?

kyle88transam

I was hoping for a pic of gta wheels with black chrome mesh with a polished lip.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Look over on http://www.gtasourcepage.com and you can find some pics.

scooter

iTrader: (11)

Actually Plastic, fiberglass and wood can be powdercoated with a different process as long as the part will not melt or burn at the temp of the powdercoat melt or flow point. The powder is premixed in water and spray it through a paint gun, let the water evaporate then you flow your powder. New process within the last 6 months or so

The picture of the formy wheels just look kind of dirty in the picture. I would say this is a place where the picture does not do them justice. PC is nice but you HAVE to make sure you do your prep work properly or it will start to peel, like the work of a certian TGO member that does PC..... My intake looks like crap now because they didnt do very good prep work, it is peeling all over the place. Intake is coming off this winter and getting stripped.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

I don't know anything about powedercoating processes, but I do know that magnetism can't be required. If it were, you wouldn't be able to powdercoat aluminum either.

Quote from Stephen:
"I give up with the education process. Some people just can't be taught, I guess..."

you come off a little arrogant here, don't you think?

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

I've stood by and drank beer as my buddy has powdercoated many a plastic part! Not being a powdercoater myself, when i asked how, he simply said, "carefully". ....but as I've paid more attention, it's actually quite common. Lots of guys are doing it.

There. The education process has now helped YOU!

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

powder coated Plastic,glass,wood,brass,metal. anything that will take the heat.

Its called HOT FLOCKING.(preheating)

Plastic LS-1 / LS-2 intake manifolds, preheat to around 300, hot flock and full cure at 400, no problems.

Plastic Corvete C6 fuel rail covers, preheat to 300, cure at 350 for 45 minutes. They soften a little but when they cool they are fine.

Glass bottles for displays,etc.. Ive done it all.
ITS STATIC not magnetic.

Blow up a balloon and rub it on your head. Stick it to a wall.
Its electrostatic charge. The powder is charged coming out of the gun.

Thats not neven needed when you hot flock parts right out of the oven.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

kyle88transam,

They would look awesome in black chrome. Im actually looking for a set of GTA rims to do the same color. (looking to trade my 17inch SS rims for GTA RIMS)

And do the centers in black chrome or gun metal grey and leave the lips polished.

kyle88transam

I'm planning on getting my bodywork done this winter and getting my wheels powdercoated either black or black chrome. I'll let you know how it turns out.

1991whitebird

I have a pair of 91 formula wheels that are 16" or a set if 15" if your interested

V8Rumble

iTrader: (2)

I've dealt with him before, & Stephen's a good guy. Seems pretty apparent to me that there was just a miscommunication earlier.

Getting back to the original intent of this thread, it sounds like it could be pretty cool - I flat-out love the look of black chrome, so I'd like to see it...

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

The mesh part of the GTA wheel has a somehwhat textured finish on it.Not the machined sirface like the rim protion.The black chrome would probably have a dull look to it.However black chrome would look great if its dark & not that gunmetal look, but the center would have to be much smoother for the chrome part to shine.