Has anyone powder coated an ALU case?

[Blackehart]

There doesn't seem to be any anodizing shops near me and self anodizing...yeah...(battery acid, electricity, fun times).
There are plenty of shops that powder coat. So I was wondering if anyone here had powder coated their aluminum case.
Does it look good? Is it pretty scratch resistant? Did you have to plug the screw holes? etc...

Thanks,

-Blacke

[exitfire401]

I haven't done it to a case, but I've done it to tires. You do have to plug any holes with threading because it builds up on the metal and will fill in the threads.  It comes out like a bead blasted feeling, and it is really nice. Also, you'll have a ton more color options with powder coating than you would with anodizing. However, you will probably have to get the original anno stripped.

[digi]

paging photoelectric, you have a call on line 1

[n0rvig]

There has been another thread about this. Anodized aluminum is supposedly a very good material to powder coat. Try it! Show us.

[esoomenona]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=44120.msg971977#msg971977

[esoomenona]

Also, I don't think it's scratch resistant. There was a sale of a black powder coated keyboard that had a big scratch on it.

[Blackehart]

Also, I don't think it's scratch resistant. There was a sale of a black powder coated keyboard that had a big scratch on it.

Nuuuuuu!

-_-'

[exitfire401]

Also, I don't think it's scratch resistant. There was a sale of a black powder coated keyboard that had a big scratch on it.

Nuuuuuu!

-_-'

"Powder coated surfaces are more resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing than other finishes. Color selection is virtually unlimited with high and low gloss, metallic, and clear finishes available. And colors stay bright and vibrant longer. Texture selections range from smooth surfaces to a wrinkled or matte finish, and rough textures designed for hiding surface imperfections."

Found Here: http://www.powdercoater.com/faq/#2

[Melvang]

This shop is located about an hour south of me (and on the same block as an e-recycler).  They are the shop that did the powder coating on mkawas batch of GH edition panavises.  They do some amazing work. 

http://www.rainbowrpb.com/

[Photoelectric]

Anodized aluminum surface is is harder/more scratch-resistant than a powdercoated surface, but powdercoating has the advantage of being easier to repair if major scratches do occur.  Also in general, anodizing finish varies based on the aluminum alloy used and thickness of anodized layer (thin layer = soft anodizing, thicker layer (longer in the acid+current bath) = hard anodizing).  You can have very easy to scratch anodized aluminum when using cheap aluminum with a thinly anodized top layer.

Powder coating in my experience is fingerprint magnet, if you go with a matte darker finish.  But there are some very cool unusual colors you can get, from metallic to candy.

[Blackehart]

Couldn't find a local anodizer. Gettin her powder coated. Pics soon!

[t2russo]

Name the shop, I have a KPAD that could use a refinish.

[Blackehart]

oh, it's local ><

Half Baked Powder Coating (southern California)

[t2russo]

Very cool.  I'm excited to see the finished product, what options did you go for?

[Blackehart]

Illusion purple top and a metallic grey bottom (name escapes me atm)