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NO to powder coating .....

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I'm now in my mid fifties and have over the past 30 to 35 years restored a fair few cars as my hobby. The last one was a rather hardcore Porsche 911 which took ten years to create. Working on my newest project, a 1957 Austin Healey, I've had a bit of a revelation; all that perfect powder coat , plating and anodising adds nothing but cost , hassle and worry. The simple finishes that were available when the cars we love were built are cheap and easily "diy able" so this time its strictly clean repair and paint or polish........much more satisfying...discuss:cool::cool:


Andy
 
I agree also. I painted the TF chassis with Martin Senior Tuff Coat and it looks great.
First this;


Then this;




And this;


Quite a paint, of course the chassis was primed first. PJ
 
Once the powder coat chips it creates a nice rust issue a lot of the time... If your doing a 100k build or awesome show car, then go for it. Eastwood frame paint works fine for me and as long as the surface is prepped properly, it holds up well... When not prepped properly it comes off in sheets.
 
I agree about 99%. The exception would be for a few instances of "plating and anodizing", particularly with the zinc and cadmium plating on linkages and other bits that were done that way originally. And that new paint spray really shows off the pitted chrome that looked great before the new paint. Actually, the paint is where we start on the slippery slope to over-restoration, in my opinion. With today's color coat/ clear coat paints, which I avoid as with powder coat, it's hard to get any 50+ year old trim to look acceptable.

Tom
 
And really when restoring, do you want a more correct look or a modern one. The polished enamel finish on my Tiger is more correct to what it would have looked like new than the Beautiful deep multi part paints most use.
 
Powder coating is fine for some items but not on these cars. I use on boating items to help fight harsh salt environment. Paint is so much easier to maintain and refresh.
 
Seems the consensus is in agreement with NO...With this car I've spent a few days working on cleaning by hand all the back axle parts ( brakes etc . I've chosen to use Eastwood chassis paint to refinish and am very pleased with the results. I was wondering which parts would have been plated since I found no evidence of zinc and clear etc on anything really. I'm no stickler for total originality but enjoy getting a period "look" so wonder if there is a finishes list to reflect what would have been there.

Always learning .

Andy
 
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