So... I was looking around for some local shops that do powder coating. Just curious on the local price to do the calipers. Anyway, found a guy on craigslist that does it on the side. He quoted $30 to do all 4 calipers!? I asked him where he works out of and he said he does it at home?? Is it possible for someone to have powder coating equipment at home?

..He's going to send me some pictures of his work.

I know average is $250-300 so something isn't right.

 

Yes!! You can literally coat in the garage and bake in your wifes oven!!

 

You got it wrong, it's MY oven, my wife uses it to cook for me!!!

 

If it is too good to be true...

That said, as someone else pointed out, it is technically possible to do. Powdercoat is a very fine powdered thermo-plastic or other polymer. It is usually applied via an electrostatic process where the part is electrically charged one polarity and the "paint" the opposite polarity. This causes the "paint" particles to adhere strongly to the part. It is then baked to melt the paint into a nice pretty finish.

Non of this is above doing in the garage/oven. Still, unless the guy has invested some serious money/effort into making a paint booth and curing oven, etc, chances are that it won't look as nice as a "pro" job. You have to worry about contamination (dust), not heating the paint enough, heating it too much, etc. Personally, I think I'd go pay the 2-300.

--SS

 

Powdercoating brakes is easy. A guy can do it in his garage, i have done it many times with the $200 gun from eastwood an an old house oven...I just take everything apart, sandblast the parts first, hit them with the powder gun, then melt it in the oven, then rebuild the calipers, it works great.

 

Interestingly enough, I got a return e-mail from the local "pro" shop and they also said $35 plus $20 if they need prepped! Surprised. Other forum discussions averaged $250+ and so was a quote to ship out and have it done.

Just seems crazy cheap.

 

lol all 4 of my wheels were $260 with a local guy that did it out of his garage... but he has a semi-professional setup with a $7,000 gun. Pretty neat.

 

I had some parts for my motorcycle (roughly the same size as four calipers would be) by a guy in his garage for $50. I was pleased with the work. Powdercoating isn't rocket science, but it does take a fair amount of equipment. I'd say its worth it.