Have a question? Aesthetic Finishers MotorSport division has the answer:

Q) HOW DOES AFI PREP PARTS PRIOR TO APPLYING POWDER COATING?

A) TO MAXIMIZE THE POWDER COATING PROPERTIES OF ADHESION DURABILITY, PROPER CHEMICAL PRETREAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP REQUIRED IN THE POWDER COATING PROCESS. ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS PARTS GET ALKALINE WASHED, IRON PROSHATED, AND HAVE A FLASH RUST SEALER APPLIED PRIOR TO POWDER APPLICATION. OUR CHEMICAL PRETREATMENT PROCESS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY AFI SPECIFICALLY FOR POWDER COATING .

Q) WHAT CAN BE POWDER COATED?

A) ANY METAL AND ALUMINUM PARTS CAN BE POWDER COATED. PLASTIC PARTS CAN NOT BE POWDER COATED.

Q) CAN YOU MATCH A WET PAINT COLOR THAT IS USED ON PARTS THAT COULD NOT BE POWDER COATED?

A) YES WE CAN HAVE A COLOR MATCHED IN POWDER. HOWEVER, IT IS MUCH EASIER AND MORE ECONOMICAL TO PICK FROM HUNDREDS OF AFI'S STOCK POWDERS AND THEN TAKE A POWDER COLOR PANEL TO YOUR LOCAL WET PAINT VENDOR AND HAVE HIM MATCH IT IN LIQUID.

Q) DO YOU HAVE COLOR CHARTS YOU CAN SEND ME?

A) SINCE WE STOCK AND PURCHASE POWDER FROM 12 DIFFERENT POWDER SUPPLIERS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEND OUT COLOR CHARTS TO EVERYONE.

Q) CAN I STRIP MY OWN PARTS?

A) YES YOU CAN AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT SAND BLAST THEM WITH SILICA SAND OR USE A NON-WATER SOLUABLE OIL AS A RUST PREVENTIVE AFTER BLASTING. DO NOT USE ANY OILS THAT CONTAIN SILICONE SUCH AS WD-40. USING ANY OF THE ABOVE WILL CAUSE FISH EYES OR OUTGASSING DEFECTS IN THE POWDER AS THE POWDER IS GOING THROUGH THE CURING PROCESS.

Q) HOW DOES AFI STRIP STEEL PARTS?

A) IF THE PARTS ARE STEEL WE WILL FIRST THERMAL STRIP THEM IN OUR BURN OFF OVEN, SCOTCH BRIGHT THE ASH RESIDUE OFF AND IF RUST REMOVAL IS NEEDED WE WILL BLAST OFF THE RUST WITH ALUMINUM OXIDE.

Q) WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THERMAL STRIPPING OVER SAND BLASTING OR CHEMICAL STRIPPING?

A) 1. THERMAL STRIPPING EVAPORATES ALL OIL RESIDUES, ROAD OR UNDERCOATING TARS AND HELPS LOOSEN RUST SCALE LEAVING BEHIND AN ASH RESIDUE THAT IS EASILY REMOVED WITHOUT CAUSING ANY DAMAGE TO THE PART ITSELF. 2. DOES NOT CAUSE OUTGASSING AND ELIMINATES CHANCE OF FISH EYES. 3. OUR THERMAL STRIPPING PROCESS ALSO ACTS AS A STRESS RELIEF FOR STREET ROD OR RACE CAR CHASSIS THAT HAVE REQUIRED A LOT OF WELDING IN FABRICATING THEM. 4. DOES NOT LEAVE ANY RESIDUE SUCH AS UN-NEUTRALIZED ACID FROM CHEMICAL STRIPPING THAT CAN CAUSE FURTHER RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

Q) HOW LARGE OF AN ITEM CAN YOU STRIP?

A) WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST THERMAL STRIPPING OVENS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING A COMPLETE CAR OR TRUCK. CRAFTSMAN SERIES TRUCKS, 7 SECOND DOOR SLAMMERS, LATE MODEL & E-MODS, ALONG WITH MOST TRUCKS & CAR CHASSIS ARE STRIPPED VERY ECONOMICALLY IN IT.

Q) HOW DO YOU STRIP ALUMINUM WHEELS OR OTHER PARTS THAT CAN NOT BE THERMAL STRIPPED?

A) AT AFI WE WILL PLASTIC MEDIA BLAST YOUR PARTS TO REMOVE ALL OLD PAINT OR POWDER COATING. TO INSURE CONSISTANT BLASTING WE ACTUALLY MANUFACTURE OUR OWN PLASTIC MEDIA ON SITE. THIS ALSO HELPS US TO BE MORE COST COMPETITIVE TO SAVE OUR CUSTOMERS MONEY.

Q) HOW DO YOU REMOVE RUST OR OXIDATION FROM MY PARTS?

A) WE USE AL,OXIDE OR GLASS BEAD MEDIA AND BLAST THE RUST OFF. YOU CAN FIT A WHOLE CAR IN OUR BLAST BOOTH.

Q) WHAT NEEDS TO BE ARMOR COATED?

A) ANY PARTS THAT ARE SUBJECTED TO HIGH TEMPERATURES SUCH AS HEADERS, MUFFLERS, AND EXHAUST PIPES. SINCE POWDER COATING WILL START TO BREAK DOWN UNDER A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE OF 600 F IT IS NOT A GOOD COATING FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS.

Q) WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ARMOR COATING?

A) ARMOR COATING YOUR HEADERS AND EXHAUST SYSTEMS WILL LOWER YOUR ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES AND INCREASE ENGINE HORSEPOWER BY AS MUCH AS 20HP. ARMOR COATING THE INSIDE OF YOUR HEADERS WILL PROTECT THEM FROM RUSTING AND THERMAL BREAKDOWN CAUSED BY THE HOT CORROSIVE EXHAUST GASSES.

Q) DOES YOUR ARMOR COAT CERAMIC LOOK LIKE CHROME?

A) YES, OUR CUSTOMERS TELL US THAT OUR FINISH LOOKS MORE LIKE CHROME THAN ANY OF OUR COMPETITORS.

Q) HOW HIGH OF METAL TEMPERATURE WILL THE AMOR COAT TAKE BEFORE IT BREAKS DOWN?

A) OUR CERAMIC CHROME CAN TAKE 1350 F AND OUR BLACK CAN HANDLE 2000 F

Q) IS ARMOR COATING A SUBSTITUTE TO POLISHING ALUMINUM OR CAST IRON PARTS SUCH AS INTAKE MANIFOLDS AND VALVE COVERS?

A) YES, BY COATING THE PARTS WITH OUR CERAMIC YOU WILL NOT ONLY GET A UNIFORM BEAUTIFUL HIGH LUSTER FINISH WITHOUT POLISHING MARKS,SWIRLS, OR LINES BUT ALSO SUPERIOR STAIN RESISTANCE.