What powder coat finish should I get?

[virtualrain]

I'm going to be powder-coating the frame and inside of my Lian-Li PC-343B when I get all the mods finished.

I'm definitiley getting a black finish, I just can't decide how much gloss to go for: Super glossy (95%), semi-glossy (65%), or a dull black finish (no gloss).

As you may know, the exterior of the case is an annodized matt black.

I was kind of leaning towards a super glossy finish like that used on the standard UFO cases, since it would reflect the lighting and make it look slick, but one powder coat guy I talked to said they don't even do a full gloss since the finish scratches so easily. The max they do is a 65% gloss.

A matt black would obviously match the exterior the best, but it won't reflect the lighting inside nearly as well making it look a bit dull.

Your opinion is valued!

Here's a pic of the case in question...

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/images/products/PC-343B_02.jpg

[Movieman]

I keep telling you guys with these 343B's that it's not nice to show them!
I'm in those prime heart attack years and you wouldn't want to blame yourself would you?:rofl:
HMM, either flat black or that deep blueish black..almost an irredescent if you know what I mean..Like the wings on those big black wasps..

[Anemone]

I have a 343B and I left mine alum on the inside. I want it to reflect and be bright. Black is fine for the outside, but inside where the lights are I want to be a nice shiny thing.

That, however, is a preference you don't share. So just offering a view is all.

[virtualrain]

BTW, Has anyone gotten a glossy powder-coat finish and regretted it?

[Okda]

i adore the looking of the matt-black inside fo the class

between glossy will be PITA to keep clean and fingerprint-free

[Burn]

matte...A matte finish looks so much sexier than gloss black. It seems nowadays that everyone who paints their case does it glossy :\ Say hello to scratches! With powdercoating, you don't have to worry about that.

[Bei Fei]

Anodized aluminum looks much nicer than powder coating. Just my 2 cents. Both would be cool though

[jtf2]

hasve you got a price quote on the powder coating job yet?.
mine goes in this week.i am getting the semi-gloss matte black finish.about 80 with taxes,so not too bad price wise

[Turtle 1]

I keep telling you guys with these 343B's that it's not nice to show them!
I'm in those prime heart attack years and you wouldn't want to blame yourself would you?:rofl:
HMM, either flat black or that deep blueish black..almost an irredescent if you know what I mean..Like the wings on those big black wasps..


That is so cool movie man. I have these black wasp living in my deck. There color is wonderful when the light hit them just right. I believe you can get that color its very expensive I believe its Pearl black and you can get it in powder coat $$$$. My hornets and wasp have lived with us for over 25 years not 1 sting by anyone. But have seen many people come to door and leave rather aborptly lol. I voted for the Gloss black but watch out for the finger prints.

[Movieman]

That is so cool movie man. I have these black wasp living in my deck. There color is wonderful when the light hit them just right. I believe you can get that color its very expensive I believe its Pearl black and you can get it in powder coat $$$$. My hornets and wasp have lived with us for over 25 years not 1 sting by anyone. But have seen many people come to door and leave rather aborptly lol. I voted for the Gloss black but watch out for the finger prints.

(Derailing topic for a moment)
We have a large amount of oregano growing out in the back yard.
In late may, early June every year the wasps show up. Huge suckers. Maybe a full 2" long...They love the stuff, like cats to catnip.
I've run a power lawn mower within 2 ft of a swarming mass of them( maybe 300-500) and never an issue.
Same with the hornets up here but not as mild as those wasps.
Not aggressive like the ones I grew up with in Massachusetts.
The only real pests up here are the deer flys. Diamond shaped wings and when they get you in their sights they don't give up.
Ok, back on topic..:D

[virtualrain]

hasve you got a price quote on the powder coating job yet?.
mine goes in this week.i am getting the semi-gloss matte black finish.about 80 with taxes,so not too bad price wise

I was quoted $75 which is the minimum shop fee from one place. Another place told me $25 but I don't think they knew what they were dealing with when they said that! :p:

I'll also look into black pearl... sounds interesting!

My case won't be ready for powder coating for a week or so yet... mods are going slow. I'll post pics when I get some progress behind me.

[Turtle 1]

http://www.paintwithpearl.com/candy/pwp402/pwp402.htm

This is just 1 example there are many more . This one actually gets mixed with the clear coat.

[virtualrain]

Does anyone have any good pics of a black pearl finish?

[[XC] Hicks121]

We have a large amount of oregano growing out in the back yard.

sure its oregano:rolleyes: ...lol..jk

I went for the matte black, imo the finger prints are very hard to keep clean on a glossy or semi-gloss finish. My case is a high gloss & I absolutly hate it.

[virtualrain]

Hicks121;2300975']sure its oregano:rolleyes: ...lol..jk

I went for the matte black, imo the finger prints are very hard to keep clean on a glossy or semi-gloss finish. My case is a high gloss & I absolutly hate it.

Agreed about the finger prints... I'm only powder coating the inside... presumably once I get it setup, I can clean all the prints off and it should stay print free... as I plan to make the chassis live with 120V to ward off unwanted finger prints... there may be the odd charred spot where the arc lept from the chassis to the wayward finger, but that's an acceptable risk :yepp: (LOL! J/K!)

[nn_step]

Flat black with Silver detail work

[virtualrain]

What about annodizing instead... with a factory like finish as on the outside panels? Is annodizing a lot more expensive? I'll have to call around tomorrow.

[Turtle 1]

Annodizing is pretty cheap actually . I have a few parts done for the Grand national rear ends we build . Valve covers/ Air filter intake bases and covers. ect. ect.

[jtf2]

I was quoted $75 which is the minimum shop fee from one place. Another place told me $25 but I don't think they knew what they were dealing with when they said that! :p:
i am quite peed off now.
i was originally quoted $80.
i phone up monday am,to confirm dropping the case off,and now they tell me,the min shop charge is $135:mad: :mad: .
i dont know now if i will get it done!!

[virtualrain]

i am quite peed off now.
i was originally quoted $80.
i phone up monday am,to confirm dropping the case off,and now they tell me,the min shop charge is $135:mad: :mad: .
i dont know now if i will get it done!!

If it's a color they use for other big jobs, ask them if you can just piggy back your case on one of their regular jobs for a reduced price... it may take a few more days since they have to schedule it in with something else, but if you aren't in a rush?

Whatever you do, don't give up... Powder coating is vastly superior to paint for this kind of thing... either get a competitive quote (maybe hard in sask but what about Regina?) or negotiate with them.

[jtf2]

If it's a color they use for other big jobs, ask them if you can just piggy back your case on one of their regular jobs for a reduced price... it may take a few more days since they have to schedule it in with something else, but if you aren't in a rush?

Whatever you do, don't give up... Powder coating is vastly superior to paint for this kind of thing... either get a competitive quote (maybe hard in sask but what about Regina?) or negotiate with them.
thanks for those tips.i`ll ask them about adding my parts to an upcoming scheduled job,if in the same color.there was another powder coating shop in town,but they had a fire and will not be up and running till the fall at least.
shipping the case to regina would negate any cost savings,if there was any.

[Lu(ky]

I would not powder coat the inside. I would POLISH out the inside by hand, and powder coat the outside left/right/top/front panels only. I am in the process of doing this myself. And I was quoted for 3 cases $100.00 They do all the of the work sanding etc.. Here is a place I found on ebay called Rosey's Powder Coating really cool colors. If you just polish the insides it would look very clean with the outside beeing powder coated. If you do like the powder coat look just by a MountainMod case already powder coated for even cheaper then the Lian Li case.. Good luck make sure to post pix when done..

Black Blue 90+% Gloss
http://roseyspowdercoating.biz/osCommerce/catalog/images/blue_black.jpg

Black Transparent 120+%
http://roseyspowdercoating.biz/osCommerce/catalog/images/blktrans2.jpg\

Mirror Black 95+% Gloss
http://roseyspowdercoating.biz/osCommerce/catalog/images/mirrorblack1.jpg

Link to Rosey Powder Coating on Ebay http://roseyspowdercoating.biz/index.php

[DarthBeavis]

Just make it a happy finish ;)

[Hey_Its_Cole]

I voted for matte, I think it looks the best for case interior.

[Friedchicken]

anodizing will give you the metalic finish in black and be more durable than painting. It's also easier to dip then to have someone try to even out a paint gun spray on the inside.

[jtf2]

If it's a color they use for other big jobs, ask them if you can just piggy back your case on one of their regular jobs for a reduced price... it may take a few more days since they have to schedule it in with something else, but if you aren't in a rush?

Whatever you do, don't give up... Powder coating is vastly superior to paint for this kind of thing... either get a competitive quote (maybe hard in sask but what about Regina?) or negotiate with them.

i asked them about adding on my small amount of work,and they said no.so i asked,how many more pieces i could tack on,and still be at the min shop charge.
i am now going to get my watercooling rack powder coated,and a couple extra pieces of mnpctech round mesh panel done!!
ill bite the bullet just to get it done

[Mekrel]

Matt black, no gloss.

[Gunlance]

def go with the matte or a small amount of gloss. I did that with my G70 and I love how it turned out. It wasn't powerdecoated, but textured black paint.

[picard]

how do you intend to spray paint paint the case?