Powdercoat question

[jhiestand]

Scored a Monster surfboard rack for xmas but it's all chrome & shiny -- not the best match for my black tower. I'd love to get it powder coated (king of bling style).

It's pretty much three major pieces. http://www.monstertower.com/accessory7.html

I'm assuming I can get the forks, the bar and the clamp coated. It might just be tough to reassemble since tolerances will be much closer. Anyone have any advice or attempted similar. Any idea what ballpark $$$ I might expect so I might be able to find a reasonable price to get it done?

[TRBenj]

RE: Powdercoat question

Monster's website says its "constructed from 6063 aluminum and 303 stainless steel components and fasteners" with a "beautiful polished and bright anodized finish."

I assume that means the stainless parts are polished and the aluminum parts are anodized. Most types of SS can be powdercoated, but you might want to talk to a powdercoater to see if this particular type can be. I would think you could powdercoat over anodized aluminum, but Im not positive. Another good question for the powdercoater.

Depending on how tight the tolerances are now, it may be very difficult to reassemble with the added thickness of PC. You might want to bring the whole assy in and see what the PC thinks.

For price reference, I had my windshield frame, platform brackets, step plate and a few other misc pieces powdercoated (all the same color) and it only cost me $150. I think this would be the low end of the scale for the amount I had done.

[SGY]

RE: Powdercoat question

You should be able to assemble it--with a bit of work taking the powder coating off intersecting areas. Used to have my gearbox kart powder coated every spring. Putting it back together always took longer because of the tighter tolerances. Nothing a little sand paper or dremel tool couldn't handle, though. You might be able to prep the areas where things will be tight upon reassembly with tape. A good powder coat shop will be able to advise you.

[Nates78Ski]

RE: Powdercoat question

SGY, you have a shifter kart?

[Rick]

RE: Powdercoat question

You might want to look into reanodizing the Aluminum rack parts darker, That would aleviate the tolerance problems as the anodization just adds a few thousandths.

[jhiestand]

reanodizing? Hmm... is this common? The Mako racks I put on were reanodized black, but I'm no expert when it comes to this stuff and didn't consider that an option?

Regardless, sounds like I'll probably need to haul the whole assembly in whereever I find to see what will be do-able.

[TRBenj]

You may be able to reanodize the aluminum, but that is a process that wont work on the stainless parts (aluminum only). An anodized finish wont look quite as deep and glossy as powder- but will still look very nice. Maybe having the Al anodized black and having the SS parts powdercoated would be a good option.

[SGY]

Re: RE: Powdercoat question

SGY, you have a shifter kart?

Not anymore. Raced karts for about 10 years--shifter kart for the last 4. Started racing regionally and nationally and became way too expensive. Bought my first Nautique in 2000 and never looked back.

[Nates78Ski]

RE: Re: RE: Powdercoat question

Niice! for the longest time I wanted to get into racing karts after my dad telling me stories of when he used to race. But, never got into it, mostly because of the cost of finding a nice kart. But yeah like you, that kinda faded once i picked up the nautique...

Nate

[gn6027]

RE: Re: RE: Powdercoat question

The powder coater should be able to mask what you don't want coated, then you shouldn't have any assembly issues.

[Mikeski]

RE: Re: RE: Powdercoat question

We could discuss this but I would just to call or e-mail Monster Tower. I have talked to Bill Bierbower and his guys several times about his products. There are a few engineers that are happy to answer questions like this and provide support in general. They have probably already done it and can likely save you from making a mistake or two in the process.

[jhiestand]

Good call, Mikeski! I whipped off the query to Monster to see what they might offer up.

[jroyal]

I would guess $40-$50 to powder coat them. I had 4 tower speaker cans powder coated by a local guy and that was what he charged. They are the ones that are on my boat now.

[DynaMike]

I own a business that does both Powder and Anodizing. Powder can be masked off or simply brushed off close tolerance areas before baking. Powder can be applied to most metalic substrates with proper pre-treatment. Anodizing is specific to Aluminum and does not add to the dimensions of the part as it is an inclusive process. Most colored anodize dyes have well defined exposure to sun light and will fade over time. Each process has its specific limitations and applications.

[JayG80]

Powdercoat question

Allied Powder Coating in Houston wanted $175 to Powder Coat my Joystick Pro Tower.