Hi PowderCoater....I think lots of us could use a general info session on powdercoating. My main concerns (in this order) are that the paint job on my bike be:

1. Resistant to environmental damage: sunlight and moisture. Especially moisture!
2. Hard; resistant to scratching and any kind of flaking/scraping.
3. Long-lasting.
4. Inexpensive.
4. Reasonably attractive.

I know that a lot of people will have different priorities but I think everyone wants most of these things.

That said, what media for blasting will give the best results (even finish while stripping off as little of the frame as possible) on a steel frame?

What kind of preparation steps should I look for regarding stripping, cleaning, frame preparation, etc.?

Should I ask what kind of facility (climate and or humidity-controlled) the powdercoater has access to? What kind of blasting and/or painting equipment should be used?

What questions should I ask regarding my powdercoaters experience with bicycles? Is powdercoating a bicycle frame very different from powdercoating a steel motorcycle frame or car part?

What kind of paint should I choose? Should I have a base-layer or clear-coat top-layer applied? If so what kind? How many coats of paint would be ideal?

.......you're right that a lot of bicyclists don't have much access to this info, and we can certainly use an expert like yourself. Welcome to the forums .

THANK YOU!