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Posted by: bandjoey Sep 22 2014, 02:35 PM

Picking up my Pedrini wheels tomorrow from the machine shop. Thinking about powder coating. One shop says run away. Not for aluminum wheels. Another said they have to be "pre-heated" and then powder coat. That costs more due to more oven time???


Has anyone here coated these wheels? Any issues? Is it a Yes or a No? Is it worth coating over painting?

Thanks guys.

Posted by: AfricanHijinx Sep 22 2014, 02:43 PM

I wouldn't powder coat aluminum, to much heat to many things could go wrong and warp your wheels

Posted by: bdstone914 Sep 22 2014, 03:08 PM

This seems to be an intelligent discussion about powder coating aluminum wheels.

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/74853-powdercoating-rims-dangerous/

I have seen bubble problems with soft metals like zinc and brass when powder coated. The emit gasses that bubble under the paint. They would bake them once to let them gas off then apply the powder coating and rebake. I have not done any aluminum parts to know if that is a potential problem.

Posted by: monkeyboy Sep 22 2014, 03:36 PM

I have been told that taking aluminum to 400 degrees changes the temper of the part. Could ruin your wheels, or require another heat treatment.

Posted by: bandjoey Sep 22 2014, 03:55 PM

I like paint anyway

Posted by: Johny Blackstain Sep 22 2014, 04:01 PM

Don't paint over/around the lug holes!


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Posted by: colingreene Sep 22 2014, 07:24 PM

id reccomend against it.

Posted by: bandjoey Sep 22 2014, 07:28 PM

thanks. I'd not thought of that. How did you polish the lip? Good looking Red wheel too.

Posted by: mepstein Sep 22 2014, 07:56 PM

Thomas powder coated my old Mahles and made them look great.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=194485&hl=


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Posted by: Johny Blackstain Sep 22 2014, 07:58 PM

It's not, it's painted. Two tone Mahle rim, silver lip & center, phoenix red middle.

Posted by: TJB/914 Sep 22 2014, 08:16 PM

Hi Mark,
Yea, wheel porn
The first post said Aluminum on his Pedrini's??? I thought all Fuchs, Mahle & Pedrini are of another better material, not aluminum??
Tom



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Posted by: TJB/914 Sep 22 2014, 08:23 PM

Wheel's hit my hot button.
Wheels I should have kept.
Tom


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Posted by: matthepcat Sep 22 2014, 08:57 PM

It's fine to powdercoat aluminum wheels. The key is not overheating...so choose a shop that knows powder coating wheels specifically....not just any industrial powder coater.

I have powder coated many wheels...some of which made it onto track cars with no issue at all.

Posted by: LotusJoe Sep 22 2014, 09:00 PM

Over the years I have had many sets of aluminum wheels powder coated without ever an issue. Even did a set of original minilites for the race car. Most new OEM wheels are powder coated.

This has been my experience.

Posted by: carr914 Sep 23 2014, 04:59 AM

You need to find a PowderCoater that knows wheels. Aluminum Wheels need to be done at a Lower Tempature and there are Special Powders for this

Posted by: Mikey914 Sep 25 2014, 05:31 PM

Heating the aluminum does harden the temper, but you should have no problem with these wheels as they are about as hard as they will get after 40 years. The key is finding a powder coater that does this professionally. It's no different than any other aluminum wheel.

Posted by: Travis Neff Sep 25 2014, 06:58 PM

You'll probably die, just like I did.

My fuchs are powder coated, pretty convincingly done as well!


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Posted by: bandjoey Sep 25 2014, 08:40 PM

Those death trap wheels look sharp!

Posted by: zambezi Sep 25 2014, 11:37 PM

You can do a lot for the looks with painting Pedrini's.