Powder Coating Recommendations

[BIGJOHNB20]

Hey Guys,
So I was stoked to go pick up my "new" RX-8 wheels this weekend for my Speed6. I had been looking for these for months with no luck. Finally found some on craigslist and bought them this weekend. Anyway, I bought then from some dude in his dark ass apartment. I could tell they weren't pristine but I have been looking forever and decided to go ahead and get them. Got home and realized they are in pretty bad shape. Could use a serious cleaning at the very least. Apparently the guy selling them cleans out houses and found them in a basement. Looks like they had been sitting there for awhile...

So, I was looking for some recommendations for a local powder coater. Anyone out there with experience getting some wheels done? Any ideas about what I am looking at price wise? Finally, color recommendations to go on a Black Cherry Mica Speed6? Thanks in advance.

John

[1Kris06]

check CL, i know there's one guy who posts ads regularly about his powdercoating business. not sure how much or what he posts under.

[Coldspeed]

I had my stock MS6 wheels pc'd by Quick Turn Powdercoating in Shakopee. They did a great job. I paid $300 for acid stripping/pc'ing. However, I've heard he's up to about $400 now because he really doesn't need the work. I also had a set of MS3 wheels pc'd by Minneapolis Enamling(http://www.mplsenameling.com) in Jordan. They also did a great job which cost $325 for sandblasting/pc'ing. This was partly because I chose a custom metallic charcoal color. Standard colors are cheaper. On your car, I would probably go with a bronze color.

I don't have experience with this place, but I hear they're good: http://powdercoatingtech.com.

MS3 wheels...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/dpluhm/MS6/ms3_1.jpg

MS6 wheels...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/dpluhm/MS6/pc_oem6.jpg

[Big Nate]

I had a guy sandblast my old cars wheels and then I rattle canned them myself. Other here can say they were clear and very nice.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m297/speed6guy/Mazdaspeed%206/IMG_2266.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m297/speed6guy/Mazdaspeed%206/IMG_2260.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m297/speed6guy/Mazdaspeed%206/IMG_2269.jpg

Total cost was around $140 with gas to get to the sandblaster and back. They were on my car for over a year and still looked perfect.

I can assist in helping you with the process if you like.

[JohnnyT]

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=349973143240&ref=ts#!/pages/Saint-Paul-MN/BM-Fabrications/116333278386841?ref=ts

I'm good friends with these guys, and I believe they have an oven that'll hold wheels.

Might as well give 'em a jingle to see their prices and compare.

[BIGJOHNB20]

Wow, this place is quick. Already several good leads to check out. I called the mplsenameling place and I think powdercoatingtech. PCtech wanted over 115/wheel for standard color then up from there. The mplsenameling was like 275 for all 4 for the standard colors. This includes sandblasting at both places. Unfortunately mplsenameling is like 45+ minutes from me and I'd have to go there during the week 9-5 of course just to see the color samples. However, Coldspeed, those MS3 wheels lot HAWT.

Sooo....I don't know. I still gotta get tires for these too. Its adding up quick.

Nate, I am not completely against the idea of sprayin myself, but I would just be scared to f'em up. Yours look pretty damn nice in those pics though.

Ill have to check out the b&m fabrications too Johnny.

Thanks for all the help so far.

[Big Nate]

Just one bit of advice. Powder-coat does not = durability. In fact powder-coat is far more brittle. Also chip repair is next to impossible to match.

[Coldspeed]

Just one bit of advice. Powder-coat does not = durability. In fact powder-coat is far more brittle. Also chip repair is next to impossible to match.

Interesting, because my experience is exactly the opposite. Factory painted wheels get tons of tiny chips over time. I've run my pc'd graphite MS6 wheels for 3 winters and don't have a single chip. I really think it depends on the quality of the job. As far as matching with paint, I actually had to do this recently after sliding on some ice into a curb. I simply took a sample from the powdercoater into ACE hardware, had them scan it, and got a matching enamel paint. You honestly can't tell where I touched up the wheel.

[Big Nate]

Quality has a lot to do with it. Both in painting and powder-coating.