Help
Troubleshooting
Common powder coating problems and how to fix them.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Pinholes in cured coat | Outgassing from cast alloy | Pre-bake bare metal at cure temp for 15–20 min before applying powder. |
| Blistering or peeling | Contamination under powder | Fully degrease with acetone after stripping. Handle only in clean nitrile gloves. |
| Orange peel texture | Over-application or wrong gun settings | Apply one even coat at 60–80kV. Don't try to build coverage in one heavy pass. |
| Soft or scratchy finish | Under-cure (metal didn't reach temperature) | Cure to metal temperature, not oven air temperature. Allow full cool-down time. |
| Poor adhesion | Insufficient surface prep | Strip all existing coating, sandblast or chemically strip, degrease completely. |
| Candy coat looks uneven | Inconsistent pass count across panels | Apply exactly the same number of passes at the same speed on all panels. |
| Powder won't stick to surface | Poor ground or contamination | Ensure the part is properly earthed. Check gun voltage and degrease thoroughly. |
| Air leaks after wheel coating | Powder inside bead seat | Always mask bead seats with high-temperature tape before applying powder. |
| Color fading over time | Standard polyester on exterior | Use Super Durable (SR) formulation for any surface exposed to regular sunlight. |
| Metallic flakes oxidising | No clear coat over metallic or candy | Always apply a compatible clear coat over metallics and candy finishes. |