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XTremist13
Member
where can i get my tunnel anodized, and what is the difference between powdercoating and anodizing......pictures would be great. kinda in the dark here about this paint stuff, any help would be awesome....
Anodizing vs Powdercoating
- Thread starter XTremist13
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HDEMWET
Well-known member
anodizing is a chemical process by which an electric current is passed through a solution while the aluminum part is bathed in it (similar to chroming). The color is "absorbed" into the topmost layer of the aluminum. It is a very thin layer (less than one thousands thick). Powdercoating on the other hand is much like painting, where charged particles are blown onto the grounded part then baked in an oven to cure it. It's thicker and less easy to scratch. In my opinion, powdercoating a tunnel would be better as you can get teflon additives in the paint to help shed snow buildup, plus there are many more color combinations than anodizing.
Hardcoat Type III would be the most durable (harder than a grade 8 bolt ).. but it only comes in black.
Teflon additives are possible with Type III.
Seals porosity of the metal and sheds ice/snow as well.
For anodizing... you cannot have any steel rivets or other non aluminum parts in the process at the same time (edit: titanium is a possibility though)
Teflon additives are possible with Type III.
Seals porosity of the metal and sheds ice/snow as well.
For anodizing... you cannot have any steel rivets or other non aluminum parts in the process at the same time (edit: titanium is a possibility though)
Hardcoat type III is anodizing? Is this something a local shop is capable of doing correctly, or is it better to find someone with some references on here and ship parts to get coated?
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XTremist13
Member
i really like the blue tunnels, just like the nytro in the pic i attached..... but im sure thats an anodizing process ?! maybe this hardcoat type 3 is the way to go though if its that tough............i still have a week before the tunnel gets here to decide what to do with it. however i dont even know anyone local who could anodize it (calgary/red deer area) if i went that route.
I had mine anodized by the gang at Altech in Vancouver. You will have to remove all steel fittings....can't have any steel or other metal on the parts to be coated. Did all my tunnel, tunnelparts such as foot well etc and rails for $225.00 before taxes and shipping. I'm very happy with the finished product, however one can scratch easily with tools, however it seams to take sticks, boot scuffs etc very well.
Anodized parts (not hard coat) fading can be controlled. I had my stuff done in Kent, Wa at Hytek Finishes. The colors did not fade for as long as I owned the sled, 4 years, clicky , as long as I kept it covered when not in use. In other words, kept it in my garage during the summer. You don't want to just park it out back, up on blocks next to the Nova in the summer.
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XTremist13
Member
my sled is always stored in my shop......usually because im always tearing it apart in the summer and changing this and that lol. but you havnt had any issues with scratching/scuffing due to boots or trees..... ive seen some powdercoating flake off do to it not bonding properly when it was done, can that happen with anodizing to ?
Seen poor prep on powder coating as well, resulting in flaking. The outfit I used in WA, I saw zero flaking in 4 years. Ken's Powder Coating in Graham, WA.
The black Hard Coat is the best ano I have seen. I cannot remember the depth of the ano coatings (it has been too long since I worked at Easton Aluminum in the ano dept). But the Hard is tough stuff, however, it is possible to scratch it, but you will have to really try to scratch it off. The regular ano is not as deep, so it is easier to scratch. Best to use a reputable anodizer to make sure they keep it in the acid long enough with the correct voltage (high volts, low amps). That is why I chose Hytek, they ano for Boeing and QC is very high.
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SNAFU
Member
It looks like the tunnel is powder coated translucent blue. I think the tunnel is polished before it it powder coated. I have the same tunnel, but it is just blue powder coated so it is not quite as shinny. I phoned around to a few shops in Calgary to see if they could anodize my rails but they were too long. If you go the powder coating route give Top Gun in Calgary a call.
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XTremist13
Member
does powdercoating work good on rails and wheels as well ?
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