Powder Coating Vehicle Parts

At Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating Ltd, we prepare and powder coat automotive parts to a very high, long-lasting standard. Powder coating is far more chip resistant than stove enamel or wet paint, so the finish will last you for many years.

Our motto is simple: do it once, do it right. Others may offer a cheaper service, but we don’t cut corners. Every job gets proper preparation, and we offer a five-year anti-corrosion warranty.

How We Prepare Your Parts

The type of metal decides how we prepare it. We never use naked flames to strip paint or decals, as some do, because the heat can cause local distortion with disastrous results.

1. Blast cleaning: steel parts are blast cleaned to remove all paint and rust and give a first-class key for the primer. Aluminium and alloy parts are bead or aqua blasted, which is less aggressive but still gives an excellent key.
2. Inspection: every part is checked for damage such as cracks or broken welds.
3. Phosphate wash (optional extra): parts go through our phosphating and wash plant for a final deep clean. The phosphate etches the surface for an even longer-lasting finish.
4. Masking: all threads and studs are masked off.
5. Primer: our self-healing epoxy polyester primer is applied at an average of 50 microns per coat. It isn’t needed under Plascoat, but can be used if specified.
6. Semi-cure: the primer is partially cured before the top coat is applied.
7. Top coat: the polyester colour coat is applied while the part is still warm, which improves adhesion and coverage in joints, corners and other hard-to-reach areas. It’s then fully cured so the primer and top coat bond completely to the part.

For parts on show, such as rocker covers and engine parts, we recommend standard polyester powders, available in a huge range of colours and finishes. For underbody parts, we recommend Plascoat.

Vehicle Restoration

Suspension parts, wheels and interior items all get the same careful preparation and high-quality finish. For moving parts, or parts exposed to stone chips, we recommend Plascoat®. It’s very flexible, highly resistant to stone chipping, and stands up well to most oil-based fluids and chemicals.

Plascoat for Chassis & Underbody Parts

Plascoat is a thermoplastic coating that gives metal a thick, tough protective layer. It’s ideal for chassis, springs, subframes, steering and suspension parts, and is also widely used in marine environments. It can also be used to cushion parts that are in contact with each other.

We use Plascoat PPA 571, PPA 571H and Talisman 30 for automotive work. Talisman 30 gives an attractive, tough satin finish, ideal for items such as light protectors and lever grips. We normally apply two coats of Plascoat, the second while the part is still hot from the first cure, for an even, long-lasting finish. If you’d like a colour outside the Plascoat range, a polyester top coat can be applied over it.

Why Choose Plascoat?

• Very flexible: it can stretch up to 1,000% before the coating fails.
• Excellent stone-chip and impact resistance. It typically passes standard chip tests, such as SAE J400, at 300–500 microns.
• Resistant to salt, acid, UV and water.
• Won’t crack, chip, flake, peel or fade.
• Performs down to -70°C, and won’t shrink or go brittle in hot weather.
• Excellent adhesion to steel, iron and aluminium, with no primer needed.
• Damage to the coating can be easily repaired.
• Free of plasticisers, chlorine, halogens, PVC and heavy metals.

Find out more about the full range at plascoat.com.

Not All Wheel Refurbishments Are Equal

Some wheel refurbishers offer excellent work and value for money; others don’t make the grade. Always ask how they do the work and what guarantee they give.

Some only refinish the wheel face, without removing the tyre or valve, and charge extra for blast cleaning. Mobile services often just rub the face down and spray it with wet paint, and that kind of finish rarely lasts much more than a year. We do the job properly, at a fair price, which is why we can offer up to a five-year guarantee against corrosion and paint lift.

Repair Work & Safety

General repairs can be carried out in-house. Specialist work, such as structural welding, goes to a trusted, highly skilled local engineering company.

Safety first: if a wheel looks damaged beyond repair, it probably is. Minor repairs such as kerb damage and small chips are fine, but we don’t recommend repairing wheels after heavy impact damage, as there may be hidden hairline cracks or weaknesses. Your safety, and that of other road users, comes first.

Call us on 01621 841100 to discuss your project or find out more about our processes.