I'm debating whether or not to powder coat my wheels.
 

I'm interested in powder coating my wheels but I'm not quite sure on what color will look best, any suggestions?

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...36459478_o.jpg

I PC'd my stockers and 5 spokes cracked on 2 diff wheels within a year. Beware!

just save up and buy a new set of wheels

Did you get you centercaps painted?

This ^^ Beware of powdercoating wheels, since the high heat weakens the metal and you can easily crack them.

Painting them might be a better option

My two cents is pick up some new rims.

Keep your stockers for winter bro! Pick up new set of wheels in either gunmetal or a teal color. Teal would look SICKKK on you ride. Good luck

Your wheels will not crack from powdercoating. Powder is cured at 400 degrees or less and for only 15 minutes or less. This is not high enough heat to fatigue the metal at all. I have been powdercoating wheels for over 4 years without ever having one issue and know people that have been doing them for over 20 years without issue. I've spoken to 3 metallurgists who have also confirmed that in no way will powdercoating fatigue the metal. A lot of wheels from the factory and aftermarket companies are powdercoated now instead of painted.

really though, not trying to be negative, just keep it original man... How cool can STOCK powdercoated wheels be?? There stock...

I was going to have my X wheels powdercoated until I found out about annealing that occurs during the heat treatment. There is embrittlement of the aluminum, which can cause it to crack or worse, break off spokes. I do understand that there are powdercoaters out there who have a lower temp curing oven so that annealing does not happen. I ended up Plastidipping my wheels and I feel they turned out really well. It is an option worth looking into.

All powdercoating is done at the same temperature, if you try to cure them at say 800 the powder will burn right off. All coaters use the same type of oven essentially. Most heat treating is done over 1000 degrees for 3+ hours The one guy I spoke with gave me some of his technical data charts that dealt with softer metals and cast pieces. I will try to dig it up to scan on here. I researched this topic pretty heavily when I first started coating 4 years ago to make sure I wasn't potentially putting someones life at risk by doing so. Basically what it boiled down to is the temp and the time that powder is cured at is all way under anything that would fatigue the wheel.

Well, I talked to a local powdercoater in my area about annealing of the aluminum and he could not guarantee that it would not happen. In fact, he said most powdercoaters know very little about the effects of powdercoating on aluminum wheels. He basically told me that if I was uncomfortable doing it, to have them painted instead. This is why I Plastidipped my wheels. There seems to be substantial testimony of wheels that have been powdercoated cracking and breaking. The internet is full of this. For me, I was kind of disappointed because I really wanted to have my wheels done. :crap:

I tried to research the subject and found that there are ovens that cure at a lower temperature. I can't find the companies who do it right off hand, but I did find some discussion about it:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...um-wheels.html

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...en-wheels.html

http://www.pcimag.com/articles/dsm-l...olyester-resin

http://www.hercules-online.com/catal...uring_156.html