Powder Coating and Fixed Hinges. What's the Best Solution?

Phetishboy

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Powder Coating and Fixed Hinges. What's the Best Solution?

Got a ton of parts back from the powder coater today, and they all look great, except for anything that had fixed hinges. Both my Williams coindoors have them, and both were baked closed. Went to open them, and the powder coating broke off of 2 of the hinge segments. WTF? I thought powder coating was supposed to prevent this sort of shit? I am underwhelmed.
 
Ive had doors powder coated with fixed hinges and mine did not break off or crack. Maybe its the powder coater with the way it was applied ??
 
Ive had doors powder coated with fixed hinges and mine did not break off or crack. Maybe its the powder coater with the way it was applied ??

I'm not sure. Possibly, this is the first time I have used them. The company name is "All-Pro" so I thought I picked the right one. The larger hinges with gaps between the segments are fine, but the smaller, tight hinges with 0 gaps between hinge segments are the ones that are breaking. It's like they coated and baked them without swinging the hinge in between. They basically baked them stiff, and then let me break them loose.
 
I have had several with hinges done, including a williams door; I pointed out the hinge and relayed my expectation before they started. I got them all back perfect. now the hinges were still a bit tight and did need some 3 in 1 oil to help them out at first but after a very short while they work great. Maybe your guys put the coating on to heavy or didn't give the hinge some extra care? I know my place did a control panel that came out wrong once and when I returned to show them my concerns and they were happy to sand blast it and try again. Maybe give them a shout? Good luck!
 
I have had several with hinges done, including a williams door; I pointed out the hinge and relayed my expectation before they started. I got them all back perfect. now the hinges were still a bit tight and did need some 3 in 1 oil to help them out at first but after a very short while they work great. Maybe your guys put the coating on to heavy or didn't give the hinge some extra care? I know my place did a control panel that came out wrong once and when I returned to show them my concerns and they were happy to sand blast it and try again. Maybe give them a shout? Good luck!

Yeah, they told me that they hit everything with 2 coats for durability, as they thought these parts would be on route machines. That's probably what happened. I have only broke one loose so far, I'll try oil on the second one.
 
Like many, your under the impression that powdercoat is indestructible. Truth is its no better than paint if its not applied right on a properly prepped surface. Hinges are a problem area no matter what coating your dealing with since its close tolerance and a moving part.
 
Like many, your under the impression that powdercoat is indestructible. Truth is its no better than paint if its not applied right on a properly prepped surface. Hinges are a problem area no matter what coating your dealing with since its close tolerance and a moving part.

This was my first trip to the powder coater. I was just going as an experiment, to see if the hype was true. Some of it is, but certainly not all of it. I wanted to find a quick and easy (albeit more expensive) way to make these coin doors look like new and to be protected from dings. Of the 30 + parts I brought in, I was unhappy with about 6 of them. The hinge thing is definitely a problem that I see I will still be struggling with for a long time to come. If you are looking to get your flat and stationary parts to look new, powdercoating seems to be a good idea. When you've got moving parts, I'd just prep and paint them myself.
 
Another problem with powdercoat is its going to show every imperfection. There are some fillers that are supposed to work with powdercoat but I have never used them.
Powdercoat is used in manufacturing mainly because its cheaper, much more safe(enviro & health) and its fast. Sure its tough but in my opinion not any more than quality paint. Powder tends to chip instead of just scratch.
 
Phet,

some quick Dremel action can help loosen the small areas. Sometimes this will happen during coating if the guy dipping wasn't instructed and was given the bin of parts with no notes. I tag anything special with directions from my client for my guys so they are prepared. I think coating looks sweet especially now with all the different types of textures and options. I feel your pain buddy. Hope it helps.
 
I have had MUCH better luck with powder coating in real world experiences. A good example is control panel bolts; where paint slowly rubs down to silver in a very short time fro basic hand wear, I have yet to see any wear on a similar powder coated bolt. As for imperfections showing; a textured powder coat hides any minor blemishes exactly the same as paint. Granted; a smooth finish will show imperfections the same as a smooth finish paint job. Powder coating is considerably more durable than paint too. Powder coating does chip but it takes MUCH more effort to chip it than to scratch paint. The powder coating finish adds a nice factory "feel" finish that paint never quite hits the same way no matter how well it's applied, you can always tell the difference.
As for Phet's hinge problem, it really sounds like a careless application job and not the process, as I haven't had any problem with any hinges I have done so far. I can completely understand that getting the hinges like that would make it seem like a deal-breaker but I can say for 100% sure that it shouldn't have to be that way with the hinges.

After using both methods paint and Powder coating, I will never go back to painting for the basic metal parts.
 
Just chiming in to add that if you take it to a good powder coater that uses high quality matrials, your hinges should be fine.

Before I took my Stern coin door in to be powder coated, I asked about the hinges. he was confident it would be a non issue and he was right.

Got it back, and a little snap to bend the hinge, and it looks awesome.
 
I use the textured black from Rustoleum on all the metal parts and it wears well, looks great and the texturing hides a multitude of sins. Since I am spraying the parts, I can go lighter on the mating part of the hinges so they don't get caked on and stick. So far, I've not had any problems other than impatience waiting for the paint to dry.

ken
 
Powder Coating Hinges

I just got back my nintendo coin door and the hinges are perfectly fine. Like everthing else when dealing with restoration, its all about the prep and workmanship. Just my opinion but the only thing better than powder would be automotive paint but the cost just isn't worth it for a part that will never have to handle to a harsh environment

Greg
 
coat the hinges lightly.

I've had plenty of coin doors powder coated and never had any problems.
when you have your stuff done tell them to do the hinges very lightly.
and if their not covered all the way then. touch up with flat black paint on the hinges. it matches perfect and you'll never be able to tell.
 
It seems like some people don't have a clue what power coating really is. It's not really paint. It's fine powdered plastic sprayed on dry held onto the part by an electrostatic charge then placed in an oven where the plastic powder melts onto the metal encapsulating the part in a solid sheet of plastic. It sounds like the hinges had a thick coat applied and it just melted the moving hinges together. If applied thin it provably snaps apart easy. Next time take a razor blade or hobby knife and score the hinge line before trying to move the hinge.
 
Powder Coaters are like every other trade I guess. It's all up to the skill and or laziness of the person doing it. Plus how much they care. A couple of years ago I was helping some folks who were restoring a GTO. They sent the frame and controls arms off to PC. I offered to pres sin their new bushings. They bring me the freshly coated arms and all the bushing. The guy that shot them and baked them did so with the original rubber bushings still in place. You could argue that he just shoots what he has, and may not be a car person who recognized the parts...but even at that the job was still crappy. The finish was terrible.

brent
 
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