Powder Coating a Chain Ring
 

I've decided to put off getting a new frame for awhile, and instead I will get my present frame powder coated this spring.

As I thought about the color, and my wheels and other components, I started liking the idea of getting the crank powder coated the same color as the frame.

I talked to the powder coating people and they said they powder coat cranks all the time.

Well, this evening I got to thinking about the chain ring too.

I'll call them tomorrow and ask about it, but, really, they only know whether or not they can do it, and not how it might affect the function of the drive train.

So, tonight, I ask the forum if anyone knows of a downside to powder coating the chain ring.

Has anyone done it?

ur adding some layers and essentially thickness to the current surface where the contact is made. i'm sure the powder coat will wear where the chain meets it, but who knows

you could always mask off the teeth and just get the rest powdercoated

you can do it. They will tape off the teeth so they don't get any powder on them. The high temp tape will be baked w/ the powder and when they peel it off and the finish should only affect the area's not taped.

The recessed areas where the c-ring bolts will be more problematic since you want a good mate between the bolt and the c-ring. If they tape well, or do a good job using some high-temp silicon to "mask" the recessed area, it should come out OK.

The area where the taped section meets the non-taped section may not be perfect. I have no direct experience w/ c-rings but having talked w/ powder coaters for quite a few projects I hope this provided some insight.

i want to powdercoat my frame... but i want it to look reallly freaking cool... like pearlescent or glow in the dark or something... whatever.

you may also have to ensure that the very inside faces of the ring where the ring contacts the crank spider does not receive powder as to not affect the way it fits, not just the bolt holes.

how thick is powder coat normally? I am guessing less than 1mm so as long as they do a good job of putting the powder on evenly I am not sure that this would be a problem

powdercoat can be very thin (so yes, less than 1mm), but i would not want to have any p/c on any surface where bolts will be, or where the face will be meeting another important piece via bolt. it just seems like a spot where something could go wrong. at my old moped shop, we would get frames powdercoated all the time, and we found that a lot of "contact" spots, when coated, would create mating issues. of course, these little two-strokes vibrated like crazy so that was a HUGE part of the problem.

I don't think it would look too hot - especially after it's been ridden a while.

I dunno man... powdercoated cranks just look too Fisher Price / Toys R Us to me... certain things, like the cranks, stem and seatpost are best left un-powdercoated. But if you want to make your bike look like a prop on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers... by all means do it.

I hear you.

However, at a certain point in reviewing the project in my head, I realized I had all black components, except for the crank, chain ring and chain.

Since I intend a Dove Grey frame, that would give me a black, grey and silver theme.

Not bad.

Then I ran across some black Sugino 75 cranks and Sugino's black Messenger chain ring, and thought how nice that looked.

It would cost me $50 extra for powdercoating the crank and ring; and, I could pick either the frame color or black, like the rest of the components.

Alternatively, the powder coating folks say they can glass bead, or frost, the remaining silver components (they could make them come out silver frost or grey frost), which would look nice, too.

But before I go for what looks nice, I need to make sure it will work when done.

I like the idea of masking off the teeth: that would solve that issue.

All of these components will get moved on to the new frame, in about two years, so I have to consider that, too.

I've spray painted a chainring flat black, and it works pretty well.

From a completely non-technical, I don't know what the **** I'm talking about view point, you'll be fine.

I guess it all depends on how set you are on riding a color matched bike. I personally wouldnt worry about it, but there are other people who would freak out. If you are expecting a new frame in 2 years, I would save the cash it would cost you to powdercoat the parts and get your new frame a couple months early...