drilling on powder coated surface
 

i am in the process of powder coating new running boards on my roadster pickup. what is the proper way of drilling on the running board once it is powder coated, like to install a step plate,


Your help is appreciated.


Al Lugo

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Maybe drill the holes before powder coating? Temporarily install the boards to get everything in position, drill the holes in the right spot, then powder coat.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Not sure how this would work on powder coating, but doing wood work I put making tape on the wood so that slivers of wood are not generated during cuts. The tape insures that the cut, either with a saw or drill, are nice and clean.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Pilot hole first, then step up to normal size, don’t turn the drill bit to fast to cause heat. If your powder coat was done right, treat it like normal paint.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Step drills are handy for that in sheet metal.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Here I go again…..
Why powder coat? When shoes scratch, very hard to touch up.
Good quality paint would be my choice
And, yes, if you drill and size holes before PC, the holes may fill somewhat.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Hi Members:


Thank you for all the great suggestions,


Al

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Yes, you probably will have to “ream” them or drill a bit oversized to keep the edge coated.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Reaming and drilling breaks the overall seal of PC
Also, I’ve seen it chip off pieces around the drill spot.
I guess I need to shut up!

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

I agree with some of the posts that vote against using powder coating. It is not a durable coating for your application. It can easily chip and is not successfully repairable with paint.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

I agree with Old Blue Oval here. Powder coating not the preferred process on body parts.

That said .............. whether powder coating OR painting, take the time, mount the boards, drill the holes BEFORE either process. In both cases, drilling the holes AFTER is just looking for a place for rust to start. You can touch-up the areas around the drilled holes, but, especially when the step plates are bolted on, water will find its way to pool in the proximity of the drilling and eventually rust will start in that location.

Now, if your desire for the step plates is not definite and you want to leave the decision until the boards and everything else are in place, you may have the situation stated above. Good luck whatever you do.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Hi Members:


I believe I get the message that powder coating is not the best coating for the running boards. I will now change to painting after I drill the holes on the running boards.


Thanks for all of your great input.


Al

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

There is a broad range of opinions about powder coating; but hardly any by actual users of powder coating. I powder coated the boards on my closed cab PU in 1993 and no chips yet. Powder coating gives you a hard surface, not a soft, easily scratched surface. I have drilled holes on a number of powder coated surfaces under my pickup over the years with no observable problems.

Some thoughts: i wouldn’t use it if I were doing a high level restoration. I wouldn’t use it if I was planning to use the car in the winter on salted roads. All blacks are not the same, and, if a perfect color match is important to you, I would be very cautious about using powder coating without first testing the colors of the different coatings. I would fit the step plates before powder coating the running boards even though the holes will need to be partially redrilled to minimize water contact. I also have used Lock-tite on screws/bolts to minimize water contact. Generally I trust the powder coated parts will last longer than I will.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Hi Russ B:


Thank you for your great reply,


Al

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

I powder coated a lot of stuff years ago for a land cruiser restoration. Would I use on a Model A restoration? Probably not but I have no general opposition to it's use. A friend is adding a large commercial powder coating oven to his fab business so may get to do more stuff some day.

Did run across an interesting note recently from a professional powder coater that said powder mixed with acetone makes a good touch up mix. Of course that requires you have some of the powder.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Powder coating is no match for rat pee also, ate right thru it.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Step plates look horrible on a steel running board.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

Hi Spdway:


I agree, but there is no other way to protect the surface weather is painted or powder coated.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

I’m sure this will open a can of worms with the experts in here, but….

You could try a gloss black vinyl wrap. They are durable and cost effective to replace when that time comes. A lot cheaper than stripping and repainting. Yes they’ll scratch, but it’s easy to replace. It’s doable even with the metal stamping texture.

It would also make a cost effective substitute for painting too for some people.

Re: drilling on powder coated surface
 

I finished this A powered hot rod in 1999. The frame, backing plates, axles, brake drums, running gear, wire wheels and suspension components were powder painted gloss black or red. Sold it last year. There were a couple of chips on the hairpins that I touched up with a rattle can supplied by the original vendor.

Generally, the anti powder coat people base their bias on boat trailers that start peeling in a year. There are good powder coating operations and then there are great vendors that charge for their expertise. My car was fenders less and was used hard for 25 years and the PC finish still looked like new when I sold it. The extra cost for a great PC job comes in the prep time. And like any process, time is money.