The Pros and Cons of Powder Coating Custom Automotive Parts

Are you a car enthusiast who is considering fabricating custom parts for your vintage car? Read on and discover some of the pros and cons of powder coating those custom-made car parts.

The Pros

Powder coating may be a better option when compared to using liquid paint on your custom auto parts for several reasons.

First, powder coating gives car parts a strong protective layer that can resist physical damage such as chipping and scratching. This is because the powder coat forms a thick and uniform layer on the surface of the metal part that has just been fabricated, such as a custom door panel.

Secondly, powder coating enables you to customise the finish on the car part in a way that liquid paint cannot match. For instance, you can choose from a wide array of textured finishes and gloss levels. This degree of customisation can make your vintage car to be truly unique from all other cars of that same make and model.

Furthermore, the powder coating process is eco-friendly. There is no need for you to use volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting solvents or thinners during the process of applying the powder coat. Instead, heat is used to melt the powder so that it forms a strong bond with the metal part that has just been fabricated.

A powder coat is also unlikely to be affected by environmental pollutants such as the damaging effects of salty water and cleaning solutions. Consequently, the newly powder-coated metal parts will retain their pristine appearance for a very long time.

The Cons

One of the biggest challenges that you are likely to face if you powder coat the custom fabricated car parts is the difficulty in colour matching a subsequent powder coat in case the car part is damaged in an accident. This is because the powder used in powder coating may not be easily prepared to the exactness of the previous coat that had several elements mixed, such as glitter that is added to the powder to give it an attractive appearance.

Additionally, powder coating involves the use of intense heat to make the powder adhere to the material. It may therefore be hard to powder coat the entire vintage car in case it has heat-sensitive materials, such as rubber. This may compel you to use different types of paint or surface finishes for your car.

Discuss the pros and cons above with an automotive metal fabricator so that he or she recommends the best way that can be used to overcome the challenges that you may face when you choose to use powder coating on the custom fabricated parts.