Imagine a durable, protective coating that looks good and can take a beating without flaking off. Best of all, it's available in most of your favorite Mustang detailing colors.
It's called powdercoating. As the name implies, powdercoating is a super fine powder that consists of polymers that don't require the use of a solvent like paint. Instead, powder is carefully applied to a pure bare metal surface with a special gun, then the item is placed in an oven where it is baked at temperatures nearing 400 degrees F. At that temperature, the powder flows onto a smooth surface. It is then allowed to cool into a hard surface that's not only good looking, but also more durable than paint.
One positive aspect of powdercoating is the environment; it emits virtually zero emissions and is easily recovered. The powder is recyclable, which means virtually no waste. It also affords you a nice, thick coating without runs if you apply too much at once. Automakers and other manufacturers are using powdercoating more and more for these reasons. It is an excellent value.
Our Mustang parts have been...
Our Mustang parts have been painted with Krylon spray paint, which did a nice job. However, for durability and good looks, there's no substitute for powdercoating.
There are two basic types of powdercoating-thermoset and thermoplastic. Thermoset tends to be more involved with two or more basic polymers that cross link to become a durable finish. Think of thermoset powdercoating like a two- or three-stage paint where you mix a base with a catalyst, which makes the paint harden and cure. Once Thermoset has cured, it is a permanent, indestructible finish.
The most common type of powdercoating is thermoplastic, a single polymer that heats up and melts across the metal, then cures to form a hard surface. Polymer is a fancy word for macromolecule, which is a mixture of synthetic materials-typically plastics-with a wide variety of properties. There are polymers in just about everything around us. Your Mustang's door panels, dashpad, seat upholstery, carpet, and instrument bezel consist of polymers that have been linked together to form plastic. The types of polymers used in powdercoating are polyester like we see in clothing, polyurethane, polyester epoxy, straight epoxy, and sometimes acrylics like we used to see in plastics.
Mustang restoration has become easier thanks to powdercoating. Your most visual detail components like bumper brackets, grilles, trim, power brake boosters, accessory brackets, radiators, battery trays, pulleys, and more can be powdercoated in finishes ranging from very flat to satin to high gloss in just about any color imaginable. And by finishes, we mean wrinkled, galvanized, rough surface, peened, and more.
Andrews Powder Coating in Southern California's San Fernando Valley is one of the area's first powdercoating operations with a tremendous amount of experience. Attention to detail is exceptional because you can count on outstanding quality in a field full of powdercoaters on every corner. By outstanding quality, we mean a smooth surface, no fallout (dust and particulates) or runs, and a surface that's chip and stain resistant.
Preparation is a huge part...
Preparation is a huge part of the powdercoating process. Tinnerman's nuts and other fasteners must be removed.
Here's some advice on Mustang...
Here's some advice on Mustang horns. When Andrews Powder Coating does car horns, there are no guarantees due to the excessive heat involved. Heat can damage the horn's internals, rendering it inoperative. If they are instructed to do it anyway, they seal the horns for media blasting. Some components, such as idler arms, tie-rod ends, and the like with bushings, seals, and bearings, cannot be powdercoated due to risk of heat damage.
Preparation includes media...
Preparation includes media blasting, which removes all paint, rust, and flaws in the surface. Media blasting perfects the surfaces for good powder adhesion.
Look what media blasting does...
Look what media blasting does for the surface. The water pump pulley on the left is ready for powdercoating.
Andrews Powder Coating has...
Andrews Powder Coating has a qualified staff of professionals who have this art down to a science. Scott Andrews gives this crank pulley his personal attention, applying satin black powder in a protected booth. This part, and others, will then go into an oven where they will be heated to nearly 400 degrees F.
You can powdercoat natural...
You can powdercoat natural metal parts with satin clear and get a natural metal finish that won't rust. Try this on your hood hinges, catches, latches, and brackets. We initially coated these brackets with clear spray paint and they rusted almost immediately. Powdercoated in satin clear, they're flawless.
Check out these underhood...
Check out these underhood components in satin black. Notice the perfect surfaces all around. Did you know you can have your Mustang's engine compartment powdercoated in satin black? The body must be completely bare. It does not come cheap, but it lasts virtually forever.
Here are our body parts in...
Here are our body parts in satin black powdercoat from Andrews Powder Coating. Media blasting removes all of the flaws. Satin black powdercoat perfects the surface.
Check out this crank pulley...
Check out this crank pulley in satin black powdercoat.
Ceramic Coating
Imagine space shuttle technology for your classic Mustang. Andrews Powder Coating offers a special service where you can get your parts ceramic coated for permanent brilliance. We have a pair of 289 Hi-Po exhaust manifolds that have been painted with a heat resistant paint and they look good. However, over time they rust and the paint flakes off. Andrews ceramic coating makes your manifolds and other cast-iron components like new. In fact, better than new. Like powdercoating, ceramic coating is expensive. These manifolds cost us $300 but it's money well spent.
Hi-Po manifold with heat resistant...
Hi-Po manifold with heat resistant cast-iron paint.
Here's our Hi-Po manifold...
Here's our Hi-Po manifold in glistening cast-iron ceramic. The manifolds are coated both inside and out, which lowers underhood temperatures because exhaust heat is contained inside the manifolds.
As you can see, the manifold...
As you can see, the manifold is coated inside, which protects from rust and lowers underhood temperatures. If you're coating headers, do any dyno work on your engine before ceramic coating because there is a temperature limit of approximately 1,800 degrees F, depending on the coating.