blasting/powdercoating

[Major Doss]

In N London. (I know this should probably be in the SE subsection, but I do not know anyone (anytwo?) to make me a membership type happen).
Anyroadup;
Although I am aware of the PC'ers in the vicinity, I am utterly stuffed with regard to their in-house shot blasting. They all have galleries showing one or two bike wheels, but f all else to give you confidence, really. One firm says a £49.00 min charge. Would be OKish but they don't touch M'cycle alloy wheels. So, does anyone have any +\- experience of relevance?
In particular, the issue of blanking off brake caliper holes. Do it myself, leave it to them to f up? There can be a fair few.
25 years of shoddiness makes me want to try out powdercoating companies. What do you reckon takes it great (components), what not to bother with?

Who does a blinding job masking up?

Edited to clarify. Thanks to Clancy

Thanks in advance.
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Antisocial phucker.

[clancy]

Umm what ?

What did you actually just ask ?

Should you try powder coating yourself? I doubt you have the equipment.

If you take something to a shop to get powder coated just remove it all yourself first. Blanking off brake caliper holes on an alloy wheel ? What ?
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KLX 300r

[Major Doss]

Not at all! I do not have the kit/knowledge. Does anyone have really, really good experiences of PC'ers in N London. That is is pretty much what I am harping on about.
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Antisocial phucker.

[clancy]

If you take the parts in loose I doubt you'll have a problem anywhere, powder coating is powder coating really. As long as they sand blast it first not hand prep it your pretty much garunteed a good finish
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KLX 300r

[Llama-Farmer]

A friend of mine worked at The Wheel Specialist in Leeds so I'd go down whenever I needed tyres changing, or sometimes just head down on a saturday and hang about, see if there were any part worns they'd thrown out which I could use.

I've watched him do the whole lot, acid dip, shot blast and powder coat. It ain't difficult. I'd say there's much of a muchness about where to take it to, as long as the shot blasting prep is fine there shouldn't be any problem with the finish.


Not sure what you mean by caliper holes though, they'd be on forks not wheel.
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Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[Major Doss]

Yeah, TBH it is kinda the blasting media which can be worrisome for a biker. Shotblast is a very generic term which CAN be taken as 'I WILL fuck up your component and then have the bare faced cheek to charge you for it'.
Many variants of media are available; water, vapour, grades of 'bead', etc, as well as the aforementioned sand. Some will be more appropriate than others. Fair enough to clean out post PC, but have your threads been fucked because someone hasn't blanked off a hole? On a torque critical thread? It is the know how of the operative to know what would be applicable to the instance. You can use epoxy putty on an exhaust hole but there are more appropriate methods, for example. Brilliant! It will work, but maybe it will fail.
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Antisocial phucker.

[moonzoomer]

[Major Doss]

Is it good? I am very interested! Is it a back door job, or can I walk in?
Ah, I see you may be even too far from my wifey's home town of Tralee!
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Antisocial phucker.

[moonzoomer]