Painting powder coat

[AMandolin]

Does anyone know if you can paint over powder coat, if so is there a preparation needed?

[Lynn Dudenbostel]

I had a bicycle rack powder coated last year and because it was silver, they recommended it be coated with an automotive clear coat to keep it looking nice. So far, it's held up great! So, I assume the answer to your question is "yes".

[Ivan Kelsall]

A 'powder coating' is more like a 'stove enamel' than actual normal paint'. I can't see any problem with painting over it,but try a tiny area to see. Apply the paint & leave it for 24 hours to see if there's any reaction.

A long while back,a friend of mine bought an American car on which he was going to paint with a 'Phoenix' on the hood ('Bonnet' to us folks). He rubbed the bodywork down & sparayed it with an undercoat of 'whatever' type of paint all over. Unfortunately,the pain was incompatible with the original paint & he ended up with the only ''Prune finish'' car i've ever seen. So - best to try first,
Ivan

[Rob Roy]

I imagine it depends on what kind of paint you're top coating with. If you want a finish that's going to be durable, you'll need to rough up the surface of the powder coat enough to get a mechanical bond. I would say wet sand with paper no finer than 400 grit to ensure the new coat can grab.

[rowka]

It also depends on the type of powder coat.
Powder coat is finely ground plastic that is sprayed on and adhered by static electricity, then heated to “set.”
The most common thermoplastic powder coat is nylon, which melts and sinters into itself.
There are also thermoset resins (epoxy, polyester, fluoropolymer, etc.).

Nylon and epoxy should accept most paints with proper surface prep. Good luck if it happens to be a fluoropolymer.

[AMandolin]

The item is my tonegard, it has a black powder coat finish.
Thanks for the help, I will sand a spot on the back and paint it, I was thinking krylon that’s good to use on plastic and metal.
Just in case.

[dhergert]

I've used black automotive touch up paint successfully on one of my ToneGards. It didn't require sanding first. Just clean the surface well and then match your color as well as possible.

My Alcoa double bass is powder-coated silver. I'm avoiding the subject of touching it up, probably forever. But I would think that automotive touch up paint would also work on it.

[Andy Miller]

The item is my tonegard, it has a black powder coat finish.
Thanks for the help, I will sand a spot on the back and paint it, I was thinking krylon that’s good to use on plastic and metal.
Just in case.

I've sprayed Krylon over a lot of powdercoated pedal enclosures. I usually buy them powdercoated even if I'm painting them because it saves me a lot of surface prep. Scuff it and spray it.