Powder coating suspension

[CFster]

wmhjr, how do you touch up powdercoat? You can do it on the car? I have a car I want to modify the subframe on and have been reluctant to do so because it's powdercoated. I thought I would have to take the whole thing off again and send it to the powdercoating shop.

[wmhjr]

It's easy. You don't use powdercoating. Assuming it's black semi-gloss powdercoating for example, you use black semi-gloss automotive (even just spray bomb duplicolor) paint. Lightly scuff the area. You don't need primer unless bare metal is exposed. Just feather the edges. People LOVE to say you can't touch up PC with paint. They are flat out totally wrong.

On the harley I built, I ended up doing a couple mods after the frame was powdercoated and then just touched up. No problems. That was 3 yrs ago. On the Pontiac, there were 3 spots I needed to weld after the powdercoating was done - 2 yrs ago. If you put really strong light on it and look very carefully, you'll probably be able to see a very subtle difference in the amount of reflectivity (gloss) but to be honest, only if you know it's there, and really only if the car is upside down - which I certainly hope never happens. Just as validation, this past year I was talked into putting the car into the Pgh World of wheels show (3 day indoor ISCA show) again. Didn't want to. Had mirrors under it, lights outside, in engine compartment, under the car. Car won best in class, Best overall custom, and the CASI cup. Even with that "touched up powdercoating". It's also why I stick with black semi-gloss powdercoat.