Powder coat?

[flynntuna]

A friend of mine is building a MK4, he got his frame without the powder coat and told me he did so because
of the grinding of weld spatter, making some minor alterations among other things. He got a deal locally
to powder coat the frame plus everything else that needed coating for under $600. I'm wondering if I should do the same. What do you guys think about this?

[David Hodgkins]

Unless you are planning to do frame mods, want a custom frame color or are building the type of car that requires mirrors under it at car shows I wouldn't bother.

If by any chance some splatter gets in the way of a panel you can always grind it off and dab it with some POR15.

IMO

:)

[Silvertop]

Also, the price of the frame powder coat from FFR is only $399. If having an absolutely spiffy frame is required for you, then you may need to spend the extra $200, plus the nuisance of transporting the frame to the powder coat vendor. Otherwise, I agree with Administrator David -- take the FFR deal. You can always touch it up with a spray can later if you do any grinding etc. -- Unless you have a lot of additional components you are going to paint inside that $600 estimated window -- then the costs may work out for you. They may not be much different. My thought -- figure out how many additional components other than the frame that you will need to powdercoat, and have your vendor also estimate that cost separately for you. Then you can make an informed choice on what is the best and easiest way to go. It will be entirely your call -- and you will be able to make it on whatever is most convenient AND most cost effective for you.

[68GT500MAN]

Like the others said, I got my frame powder coated by FFR for the reasons of cost and not having to take the frame to the coaters. I had very little splatter and none in a place that can be seen from above or that was in the way of a panel. If you are wanting a show car that will use mirrors, then order it non coated, otherwise have FFR get it done.
Doug

[michael everson]

Plus you can start to build right away.
Mike

[Frank818]

What's been said about rust on the frame if non coated? Can rust build up?

[nomansland]

I've had a few things powder coated and professionally painted and I believe the FFR p/c is a good value.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

What's been said about rust on the frame if non coated? Can rust build up?


I did Not get my frames powder coated because I need to cut and add stuff for the electric propulsion system. The day after I got home I wiped it with a phosphate etch to prevent rusting.
21172
There is a little rust, but it will be cleaned up before powder coating.


This is what I'm thinking:
21173

The bad
I will build the running go kart version and then take it all apart for coating
The Good
I will get to build it twice.
Bob

[Frank818]

So it is rusting pretty quickly if not treated.

I like that blue, Bob! Bob's blue!

[riptide motorsport]

IMHO.....save the powder coat money and clean up the frame the way you want it and use POR 15, it holds up as well as and llooks as well as powder coating.........Save yourself $350.00 That being said the FFR price point is very good.

[2FAST4U]

I elected to forgo the factory powder coating as my frame is being extensively modified. Plus, I'm still undecided as to color - black or silver.

[Bill Waters]

I agree with David.

I had my Mk. 3.1 Roadster powder coated by FFR. I thereafter modified it a good bit (welding brackets in front for burp tank, welding mounting plates for brake fluid reservoirs, battery relocation, relocating cross bar for shifter and hand brake, etc.). I cleaned all factory weld spatter that interfered with fitment of other pieces and that sort of thing and then used POR-15 to coat all bared surfaces. POR-15 is like powder coat in a can.

All this is just to say that I would just suggest the amount of time it would take to properly prepare plus transport frame and the cost of powder coating should be considered carefully by most builders before not opting for the FFR powder coat.

As a side comment, I was up at FFR just yesterday and the quality of the powder coating I saw on the 818s there was superior to that even on my roadster.

Bill