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How do I make sure my wheels don’t prematurely corrode after getting them refinished?
It is important to understand that how your wheels are stripped of coating will affect how well your new coating will adhere, determining how well your wheels will resist rusting. It will also affect the structural integrity of the wheel’s surface, directly affecting your wheel’s safety.
Do I need to have a primer used in refinishing my wheels?
What is the finished MIL thickness of the powder coat process?
How do I know my finished wheels are completely cured?
Once your wheels are blasted and powder coated, they should be processed through an oven to fully cure. Your service provider should check the cure of your powder coat by using a methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and Q-Tip rub test. If the coating fails this rub test, it most likely did not have enough time in the oven to allow for curing and should be re-serviced. If your wheels are not completely cured, they are prone to premature corrosion.
What’s the difference between using paint or powder coating with my wheels?
Painting is a low-cost and well-known method for coating your wheels, but in reality, it leaves your wheels vulnerable to corrosion. Prone to scratching and chipping, paint is a short-term solution, causing unnecessary corrosion to your wheels and leading your vehicle to be taken off the road again and again to get its wheels repainted. Painting also does not shield the wheel from long-term exposure.
Powder coating is a process that uses advanced technology to create a more durable finish. The wheel’s prepared surface is sprayed with powder coating, essentially color and resin particles that have been electrostatically charged. Because of their positive charge, they adhere to every part of the wheel’s surface without running, pooling, or distributing unevenly.
This method of coating allows for a stronger coat than painting, meaning more protection for the wheel, and less wasted product.
When curing, the coating is then set by exposure to high temperatures. The powder melts, flows evenly over the surface, and chemically reacts over the surface of the wheel to create a tough, web-like interlocking of molecules. This molecular structure does more than cover your wheel – it defends it.
Special note: when considering having your wheels powder coated, make sure you use a powder that is engineered for refinished steel truck wheels.
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