Did you powder coat *all* steel parts?

Hi, All;

I'm at that point (aft fuselage) where I'm going to start installing some of the steel weldments like the flaperon control tube, flaperon pushrods, etc.  I found a local shop that had some pretty good reviews, so I'm taking the parts to him Monday for an estimate.

Separating the steel parts from the rest of the remaining kit parts was somewhat enlightening, so I got to wondering if standard practice was to powder coat EVERY last little part, bracket, angle, etc., or rely on appliance epoxy for some of the parts.

What items did you not powder coat?  Or, if easier, what items *did* you powder coat?

I'm intending to coat:

cabin frame

flaperon control tube

flaperon pushrods (4)

Y-stick

the other long control-stick-related parts (sorry; can't recal exact names)

motor mount brackets (4)

seat backs

landing gear brackets

nose strut (after converting to new donut suspension)

Anything I should *not* coat?

Thanks for your experience!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jerry Griego on November 17, 2018 at 9:40pm

Powder coat looks nice, but it will hide a possible crack that could lead to disaster. If it is painted the crack will be visible. I have seen things that were powder coated that were hiding fatigue and cracks.

Permalink Reply by Carl Orton on November 18, 2018 at 9:23am

I was intending to paint the motor mount for that exact reason. I don't believe anything else comes close (I say that in ignorance). Perhaps the landing gear fittings, but they're so heavy-duty...

Permalink Reply by Loren Warner on November 17, 2018 at 9:43pm

We had all of our steel parts powder coated, but epoxy is probably fine.  I'd defiantly powder coat the cabin frame and Y-stick.

Permalink Reply by Don Morrisey on November 17, 2018 at 9:58pm

If the part was hidden from view, I used a rustoleum primer and left it at that.  If visible I powdercoated.

Permalink Reply by Jimmy Young on November 18, 2018 at 6:35am

Knowing what I know now, after having all my steel parts powder coated and a few years of flying experience, if I were to do it again I would go with a quality 2-part urethane epoxy primer and finish paint. The powder coated parts do look nice, but... It can get too thick, tends to de-laminate at sharp edges like we have on the gear weldments, and I agree with Jerry on the fact it can hide a crack much better than a 2-part epoxy paint would. Just my opinion.

Permalink Reply by Oliver Reik on November 18, 2018 at 9:34pm

We decided against powder coating and used a strong epoxy primer instead, followed by a top coat.

While it is super convenient to simply have the parts coated and while powder coat is also very wear resistant, if has some significant disadvantages:

- It doesn't bond with the underlying metal like epoxy primer, rust can grow under it, what is particularly a concern on edges like the gear brackets.
- Rust or cracks might be covered for quite some time until they become visible.
- Damages (chips, rust, etc.) can not easily be repaired.
- Powder coated parts cannot be painted, removing it is a SIGNIFICANT paint in the neck. This might not be a concern now but what about in a few years when particularly the exterior parts start to show some wear?
- The added thickness might create headaches, for example on the gear bracket attachment for the wing strut.

Oliver

Permalink Reply by Carl Orton on November 19, 2018 at 9:09am

Good points by Jimmy and Oliver (and the rest of you as well!).

Here I thought I was required to powder coat (as in, std practice).  I've backed-off my expectations, but will still do some. Probably the cabin frame, Y-stick, and seat backs, just because of the "handling" wear.

Thanks again!

Permalink Reply by Ken Ryan on November 19, 2018 at 10:31am

Steel parts that are to be powder coated should be primed first.

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