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MG MGB Technical - Chrome wire wheels

Has anyone powdercoates wire wheels with chrome? Any thoughts? How much powder per wheel?
D Enghauser

D,

I have not done this although it seems to be a very sound idea.

It would best be done with the wheel completely pulled apart so the spokes are not coated into the rim and hub I think.

Some extra work but worth it I think.

Pete.
Peter Thomas

Powder coat with chrome? Real chrome? That's a new one on me. If it's possible surely they would all be chromed that way, got to be quicker and cheaper than electrolysis. The only way I've seen wheels powder-coated (with 'paint') is complete. To do them separtate would need larger holes in hub and rim to cope with the thickness of coating, it's a lot thicker than electroplated chrome.
Paul Hunt 2

I assume he means powder coat wheels which are currently chromed. You would need to sand blast the wheels at the very least, preferably disassembled. The amount of work involved would probably cost as much as new painted wheels.
Steve Simmons

I have had wheels powder coated, I would not bother again. I'm presently 1/2 way through repainting the patio furnutire which is aluminium and was powder coated from new, so at present I do not feel very positive towards this form of metal finishing.
Stan Best

Powder coating can be done to simulate a chrome finish. It is not often used since those wanting chrome normally opt for that in the first place.

The quality of the powder coating depends entirely on the quality of the materials and the experience of the operator doing the job.

Like everything else there are variations in the quality and the price.

Pete.
Peter Thomas

I've seen all kinds of items advertised as powder coated. Even when it's actually real powder coat, there is often no prep work and it flakes off. I've even seen wooden cabinets advertised as powder coated. not sure how you get the charge through the wood, but ok. Done properly, it is a very durable finish.
Steve Simmons

"not sure how you get the charge through the wood"

I assume you mean the static charge to get the powder to stick before baking, rather than am electroplating current. *Is* wood immune to static?

Another question is how they stop the wood bursting into flames in the oven!
Paul Hunt 2

I had the wire wheels on my B powder coated with a finish called "near chrome" about 10 years ago. Back then I think the charge was about $ 30.00 a wheel. Looked very nice but because of worn splines and hubs I replaced them with chrome wires shortly there after.
I still have one in the boot for the spare. I would not recomend doing it again as the powder coating will not flow into small joints like paint will. The result on mine with washing periodicaly produced rust streaks coming from both ends of the spokes where they meet the hub and the rim. Dissassembly to have the coating ( or chrome for that matter) done really dosen't make
sense. Powder coating done properly with quality powder makes a very durable and long lasting finish. My wifes business uses it for a couple of applications and I have used it for a number of High corosion applications on both the B and the TF. Wire wheels again? Never.

LaVerne
LED DOWNEY

You can say that again about variations in quality and price, one was very high and the other very low.
Stan Best

LaVerne,
Thanks for the feedback. You are the only person I know who has had it done.

One aspect of powder coating which is to advantage is the fact chromium can cause hydrogen embrittlement in steel where as powder coating will not.

Pete.
Peter Thomas

If you were dissassembling the wheel, then you would do far better to replacewith/use stainless spokes. Chrome just the hubs and rimms.
Peter Sherman

I've been getting increasing chrome spoke breakage over the years, including some of the replacement spokes. I've just had one wheel respoked with polished stainless so I'll be interested to see how that gets on. The stainless are close to the chrome, with a slight grey tinge instead of blue.
Paul Hunt 2

"chromium can cause hydrogen embrittlement in steel where as powder coating will not"

If you were still living in the 60's, hydrogen embrittlement might be a problem. Today it is of no concern. Technology has eliminated the it.
Steve Simmons

I'll tell that to my chrome spokes when they are thinking of breaking next ...
Paul Hunt 2

The last set of chrome wheels I purchased were sourced from India. Indeed, the spokes broke on a regular basis. Since getting Dayton chrome wheels, with stainless spokes, this has become a thing of the past. Ray
RAY

This thread was discussed between 07/09/2007 and 14/09/2007

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