Okay, need some pros and cons on each side guys... I've heard random shit this is better or that is better, but no reasoning...

 

- powdercoat can't chip like paint... right??

 

Im pretty sure powder coat can chip, just not as easily as paint b/c its magnetized to the metal.

 

Only in powder form (pre-cooking) is the powder attracted to the metal by static charge (similar, but not the same as magnatism). Powdercoat is much thicker than paint, and harder as well, but I don't think it is inherently bonded to the metal any better than paint is. I could be wrong and there could be some covalent bonding durring curring, but I don't believe there is. Just like paint, I believe it is just an adhesive bond (probably similar in strength), but the powdercoat is generally tougher to chip than paint.

On wheels, where your damage comes from abrasion on a curb, I doubt there is any significant difference in resistance to ugly scratches. If anything, paint would be easier to grind down, fair, touchup, and buff. This is a little rediculous for wheels, but there isn't much you can do to repair damaged powdercoat.

 

so to add to this topic, would using duplicolor to paint your stock rims be just as good as powder coating for normal day to day use or whatever of your car? is the extra money for powder coating worth it? I mean with dupli color you can paint all your rims for $60 total.

 

I still think i'm gonna go ahead and drop the cash and have them p-coated this winter while the baby is in storage..

 

The trick to any good paint job (car, boat, metal, wood, plastic) is preparation. I am not familiar with Duplicolor. Also, is this a paint job you would be doing yourself. I can't imagine you could get a decent paint job done for only $60 by a profesional. Also, I assume there is some coating on the rims currently. At least for powdercoating, you need bare metal, and I imagine for a good paintjob, you would wan't to get off the existing coating as well.

 

Preppin' is in fact a key factor to a good finish. If you use a high heat temp. paint as a primary coat, that is going to ensure you get a solid coat against the wheel.

For powdercoating, you have to sandblast the wheel first to get rid of the paint/clearcoat/primer thoroughly. Don't do this right and you will have flaking, period.

Painting is more forgiving. After putting a high temp/heat paint coat, add a couple of rubberized paint coats before applying the final coat. This will ensure protection against rock chips, which are by far the worst enemy for wheels.

I have painted at least a dozen set of wheels in the last couple of years and have learned several things in the process. I like the fact that you can "fix" paint, but powedercoating is a biaaaaaaaaatch.

Angel

 

Duplicolor is basically spray paint, but they have a formula that is made for painting rims.