powdercoat or paint joystick?

Malice95

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I am starting a zaxxon restoration... cleaned up, bondo, new woodgrain, CPO, etc.

The joystick is metal and really worn. Should I paint it black or have it powdercoated?

How were they originally?

Malice95
 
I'd say this is a case where whatever they were is irrelevant as the finish didn't hold up. I painted one, and probably in a home use setting spray painted would hold up fine. If you are keeping the game, and have access to powdercoating or are taking some other things, I'd definitely get it powdercoated. I have an Afterburner project where the stick is very worn and I'd like to get it powdercoated one day.
 
I'm thinking the same thing about a Dynamo CP.

How expensive is powder coating? I vaguely remember it as being pretty pricey.
 
I'm thinking the same thing about a Dynamo CP.

How expensive is powder coating? I vaguely remember it as being pretty pricey.

Depends on where you go. Some shops might have a "Shop Minimum" meaning like $80 at least to start. Those are the shops that will fire up their oven specifically for your job.

Call around and ask for prices.

I have a guy locally who will toss in my stuff with other big jobs. I had him do a Scramble coin door, marquee brackets and a couple other pieces and I only paid $45 ish total. Might take a little longer since they wait for "full batches" before they run everyting, but the lower price is worth it.
 
Powder coat is really nice but the expense and durability for home use are more than I think is needed. I'd go regular paint and use the savings to buy more stuff! Get a poster, marquee for the wall, etc.
 
I'm considering having some coin doors and brackets powdercoated - not for the durability. In a home use environment, they'll be fine. It's because these parts have some rust where the original finish isn't a suitable base for a repaint, so they need to be stripped. All the time I'd spend stripping the parts, sanding, prime, paint, let dry...it would be worth the money to me. Other thing is, if I paint with something like Rustoleum, the part needs to dry for weeks before I trust bolting it to the cabinet, or it might stick and pull up paint if I ever remove it.
 
I use etching primer then paint. Use engine paint or caliper paint for super hard finish. My Police Trainer had two blue guns, and is supposed to have a red one. I didn't want to buy a new gun, just to get the right color. I used etching primer, then red caliper paint, then clear coat. This is the player 1 gun, and has been handled hundreds of time, and paint is still perfect. Powdercoating is overkill for anything, in my opinion. rustoleum black with clear over it is very durable, for coin doors, legs, lockdown bars, etc.
 
I use etching primer then paint. Use engine paint or caliper paint for super hard finish. My Police Trainer had two blue guns, and is supposed to have a red one. I didn't want to buy a new gun, just to get the right color. I used etching primer, then red caliper paint, then clear coat. This is the player 1 gun, and has been handled hundreds of time, and paint is still perfect. Powdercoating is overkill for anything, in my opinion. rustoleum black with clear over it is very durable, for coin doors, legs, lockdown bars, etc.

So the clear coat becomes the most important layer in a multi-layer solution. What clear are you using?
 
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