Originally Posted by
reckon
thanks for the qualified reply,...BUT,........the way they temper steel to get a spring like effect is: AFTER heating to over 1000 degrees, and then quenching rapidly,...they heat the steel to about 450-500 degrees THEN cool slowly in an oil bath,....I heard (from our shop QA inspector: a machinist with 45 years experience) that repeating this 500 degree heat and cooling would anneal or soften the steel back to it's original non tempered state.
which is why I asked the question,....
and I still don't feel comfortable powdercoating an old steel frame (old dogs, new tricks, yada, yada)
I'll probably chrome plate it then paint just the tubes, and leave the lugs chrome.
Think about how many industrial grade pieces of equipment are powder coated. If it were to affect the strength of that steel, do you think the manufacturer would still allow it?
"This cure process, called crosslinking, requires a certain degree of temperature for a certain length of time in order to reach full cure and establish the full film properties for which the material was designed. Normally the powders cure at 200° C (390° F) in 10 minutes. The curing schedule could vary according to the manufacturer's specifications."
I don't think 10 in minutes in an oven <i>barely</i> hot enough to make cookies, will affect my steel framed bike.