|   Which Surface treatment is most durable? | 700C
Feb 20, 2003 8:37 PM | | Is a good powdercoat paint job a more/less durable finish for a bike frame? I can purchase a Ventana Chamuco with either finish. I love the way the anodized frame looks when new, but I'm concerned that it is a more delicate - prone to fade, scratch, etc, finish than a good powder coat finish. Anyone have any comments? |
| re: Which Surface treatment is most durable? | J05
Feb 20, 2003 8:48 PM | | Powdercoats are easy to touch-up in case of dings/scratches.
Anodyze... you can't really do that, since it's a surface etching rather than paint coat. I'm sure there's a website that explains those repairs. |
| re: Which Surface treatment is most durable? | 700C
Feb 20, 2003 8:55 PM | | I'm not asking about repairing dings. In essence, I'm asking people which frame treatment they prefer and what if any experiences they have that support their preference. |
| re: Which Surface treatment is most durable? | J05
Feb 20, 2003 9:12 PM | | I only mentioned that because of maintenance issues if you want your rig too look good when it's clean.
My advice: Anything is better than a spray-painted finish.
What's the warranty with Ventana like? and concerning frame finishes? |
| re: Which Surface treatment is most durable? | Jrm
Feb 21, 2003 7:13 AM | | Doesnt matter cuz its going to get worked anyway. I like the way certain colors & anodized finishs fade. But i think i like ano better. |
| From what I've read so far | Spiff
Feb 20, 2003 9:04 PM | | Powdercoat is the toughest, more resistent to scratches, and also the heaviest.
Anodized is the ligthest finish (among powder and paint), it is very resistent to scratching, more than normal paint but not as much as powdercoat (I have a frame anodized). It is the most beautiful, IMO. I dont think it would fade easily (if ever) once the aluminum is treated electroltically in an acid solution to produce the oxide coating.
Gui |
| depends on what it is based on | Jm
Feb 20, 2003 9:54 PM | | I know that Rocky Mountains "powdercoat" is actually a plastic-based "powdercoat" that is of course baked on, I didn't find it to be overly durable, although it is supposed to be "enviromentally friendly". I also know that there are ceramic-based powdercoatings, I would assume this process produces a more durable finish. |
| re: Which Surface treatment is most durable? | DanB
Feb 21, 2003 7:11 AM | | I have had all three now and they all look great if done correctly. As far as durability, I would say that the anodizing and powdercoating are your best bet, unless wet paint (normal piant) is done very correctly (rare in the bike industry) it is not as durable as a powdercoat and definately not as durable as an anodized frame. My experience with anodized frames is that it is very durable but you will see fine micro scratches as you would in powdercoat also, but one thing to think about with anodized frames is that once they are anodized, rewelding them is nearly impossible if not impossible, that was explained to me by Dave Turner (Turner Bicycles). To me powdercoating is the way to go on a bike frame, it looks great, it's very durable, it's repairable, and it's better for the environment. |
| Not a fan of annodizing... | Steve-O
Feb 21, 2003 7:13 AM | | I have two years on an annodized Superlight and, while I like the "look" of annodizing, I haven't been overly impressed with the durability of it.
There are multiple places where cable rub has taken out the annodized color on my frame. After installing a new fork this winter I found cable rub had left a nice shiny metal patch on my head tube after two rides! Since then I have tried to route ALL of my shifting cables to avoid contacting the frame (something that wasn't nearly as much of an issue on powder coated frames).
On a painted frame you can give them a coat of car wax to spruce them up if they are looking dull. That isn't an option on an annodized frame. Someone above mentioned touchup paint, which also isn't an option with annodizing. Finally, annodizing isn't really an option is you want a steel or Ti frame (yeah... I know, some manufacturers have done annodized Ti but it is VERY rare)...
If I had the choice now, I would have saved the added cost of an annodized frame an spend it on a cool custom paintjob. |
| I'm a fan of annodizing... | Brown Teeth
Feb 21, 2003 9:45 AM | | Different types of anodizing with US annodizers doing the best work, its all speced so beware. Hard annodizing actually hardens the surface of the Al. I have a black hard annodized frame which is very scrach resistant, I don't even need a guard on the rear triangle, even the chain slap doesn't knock it off but constant rubbing of cables will wear over time, if its a problem use a bit of electrical tape as "protection rub strike". Two days of riding should not do it, your made in china frame probaby was annodized there on the cheap. |
| Do you want the tech? | sonrevern
Feb 21, 2003 9:01 AM | | It might help make the dicision if you know the fundamental differences between the finishes. I used to be in the metal finishing business but I will try to give it to you short and sweet.
Anodizing is the opposite of electroplating. Anodizing takes particles off of the surface leaving a colored oxide layer as the finish. The anodized layer is very hard but is also very thin so it of course is the lightest.
Paint is paint. It is composed of pigment(color) and Carrier(solvent). The carrier is there so that the paint can be applied and then evaporates into the air depleting the ozone(bad stuff).
Powder coat was invented to solve the environmental problems of paint. Powder coat is just very thick paint that has been ground to a powder then it is applied electrostaticly and baked in an oven to melt the powder to the surface of the painted object. Powder coat is the thickest and most resilient of the surfaces. It sould be resistant to chips and scratches because it stays somewhat plyable but when you are talking about an extreme sport such as mountain biking, resilience and durability are relative terms.
Hope this helps.
Ron |
| duct tape | *rt*
Feb 21, 2003 9:22 AM | | very durable and it will protect your baby from airborne pathogens....oh, wait, no it won't.
hehehehe
sorry, nothing useful to add.
rt - ;-P |
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