Can I fix scratched powder coat?

[6t8dart]

I was wondering if you can fix scratched powder coating on the frame? Unfortunately, various things I have been installing have scratched my powder coat on the 4" tubes, none are all the way to the metal, but look like hell. Can PC be polished to look new again? My other option is to bend up an aluminum cover to hide wires and brake lines that will also hide the scratches.

54499

[GoDadGo]

Easy Peasy!

Sand it down and get it smooth then clean it off with an appropriate cleaner.
Then use your favorite automotive Gloss Black Paint and shoot some Gloss Clear over it too.
I like Duplicolor rattle cans just because I like their spray tip.
You can feather it in with no problems with a little patience.
I had to do this when we whacked the motor mounts off of the Chevy Cobra because we had to move the motor.
You can do it so don't fret over this little issue!

Steve

[NAZ]

I've made some extensive mods to my powder coated chassis cutting and welding for a roll cage & watts link set-up. FFR suggested I simply use a commercially available rattle can paint. The product that I found works the best is Chassis Black from Eastwood. If you use their primer made for the gloss Chassis Black system with the top coat it matches the original powder coating. They make both a single component & a two-component system packaged in rattle cans that works about as good as a spray gun. The product is pricey but it is well worth it. The rattle can Chassis Black can be sprayed on much heavier than your typical hardware store spray paint and leaves very little orange peal that can be easily rubbed out.

[Gumball]

Smaller issues can be tackled by spraying some Rust-o-leum gloss black into a container (I use an old Tupperware bowl) and then applying it either in dabs or brushes with a Q-Tip.

[Bill Waters]

+1 to all these good suggestions: I'll just add this one. I have removed both small and large areas of the powder coating to weld and otherwise perform mods and have re-covered the bare metal or defaced powder coat with POR-15. It is functionally just like powder coating once dry, which is to say pretty bullet-proof. Though the directions say to use their prep (common phosphoric acid etch/wash, I have had good luck with just a bit of sanding and acetone. Acid-etch primer is also effective. You can get POR in the very small cans (I guess 1/2 pint), which I'd recommend due to the fact that all paints - and especially POR - have a short shelf life once opened. Many call POR-15 "powder coat in a can."

I just use a small, disposable brush.

Good luck.

[6t8dart]

Judging from these responses, i am guessing that you cant use a little rubbing compound?

[edwardb]

Judging from these responses, i am guessing that you can use a little rubbing compound?

It just dulls it down and I haven't been able to get it to shine back up doing that. Lots of good suggestions here. I've tried most of them. For the gloss black that FF uses, the POR15 is a great match and is probably nearly as durable. But it would be hard to touch up scratches on your frame tubes and not have the touch-up show. Here's another idea. I had a missed weld in my current build and used a matching touch-up spray from these guys: http://www.lowvolumepowder.com/. The match was really excellent, and I was able to blend from powder coat to touch up and it's nearly invisible. Mine is the silver/grey anniversary frame and I had the specific brand and color code they could match to. I don't know that I've ever seen the brand or color code of the gloss black FF has applied to their frames though.

[cgundermann]

I use Flitz Polish and it removes light surface scratches with some elbow grease...

[6t8dart]

Flitz? I think I have some in the garage. I guess I will give it a try, but if that don't work, I'll Just paint it. I actually have 2 part Eastwood chassis black in the garage that I bought for another project.

[boat737]

This stuff is darned near bullet proof. Tuff as nails It's a 2 part mix, so you use it or lose it. And it aint cheap. But it is tuff. I've not used it on a car though. http://www.houtsenterprises.net/dur_shakenspray.html

[prophet]

You can cut and buff powder coat just like paint. Norton Liquid Ice and 3M Perfect-It II both work really well. Here's a fluid reservoir I did for another FFR guy years ago (thanks Scott!):

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u290/risteven/powdercoat/scott-griffin2-1.jpg (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/risteven/media/powdercoat/scott-griffin2-1.jpg.html)

[WIS89]

I will second the POR-15 suggestion. I will add that they also have it in a spray can now, which I have used successfully to touch-up the powder coat that I have injured.

http://www.amazon.com/POR-15-45918-Chassis-Black-Coat/dp/B00MBFOHEW?ie=UTF8&keywords=por%2015%20spray%20paint&qid=1465483344&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

I like the Eastwood product as well, but I like the durability of the POR-15; stuff is quite strong.

Good luck!

Regards,

Steve