Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

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Hooligan
Posts: 1966
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Location: Calgary, Alberta

Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#1 Post by Hooligan » Fri Dec 02, 2016 6:30 pm

After cleaning and polishing, I want to put an exterior finish on my fork sliders (bottoms). Anyone got any reasons to choose between anodizing or powder coat? Can't decide which would be best. :smt017
'82 RD350LC in '81 colours, OEM pipes, UNI filters
'85 FZ750

evan_calgary
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#2 Post by evan_calgary » Fri Dec 02, 2016 7:36 pm

Depends what you want them to look Peter. If you want powder coating done let me know....we can throw them in the oven for cheap depending on what color you want.

Anodizing is a more interesting finish in my opinion whereas PC looks more like paint. Can do any color you want...

Zombie
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#3 Post by Zombie » Sat Dec 03, 2016 2:00 am

I 2nd for anodizing.
Or polish, if you like bling and easy hose/wipe-off cleaning.

Hooligan
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#4 Post by Hooligan » Sat Dec 03, 2016 4:04 am

I gave them an initial polishing and the results were pointing towards powder coat. One leg was fairly corroded but the other had a big ass sticker on it which protected the OEM finish. Interestingly the corroded leg polished up a lot better than the protected one.

Evan, I didn't know you could do powder coat. I may just take you up on that offer as I was a bit less than impressed with the results I got from the place I took stuff to last time.
'82 RD350LC in '81 colours, OEM pipes, UNI filters
'85 FZ750

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JonW
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#5 Post by JonW » Sat Dec 03, 2016 8:39 am

bear in mind that some of these have a plastic bush in em.... 200DegC for most powders :/
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evan_calgary
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#6 Post by evan_calgary » Sat Dec 03, 2016 2:00 pm

Peter, we have a PC oven. All plastic bits have to come out. usually sandblast parts first so would likely take a bit until we have another set of stuff to blast (the place is just down Barlow). If its a common color likely have powder already. If not, prismatic powders has thousands of colors to choose from.

Another finish that I like and is a little less bling than full polish is taking a scotchbrite pad to it in one direction after polish. My only issue with this is it is difficult to avoid getting streaks that are not perfectly straight. Used this finish on the FZR400 legs and they look nice.

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Smoker
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#7 Post by Smoker » Sat Dec 03, 2016 2:34 pm

Powder coating will give a MUCH better result.

You'll probably be sorry if you anodize old cast aluminum. No matter how much you polish the fork bottom, anodizing will look very dull. Anodizing will also fade considerably faster and scratch easier than powder coating.

Hooligan
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#8 Post by Hooligan » Sat Dec 03, 2016 4:39 pm

JonW wrote:bear in mind that some of these have a plastic bush in em.... 200DegC for most powders :/
There are no bushings inside a 31K fork slider. The bushings are on the leg itself and they aren't plastic.

Smoker wrote:Powder coating will give a MUCH better result.

You'll probably be sorry if you anodize old cast aluminum. No matter how much you polish the fork bottom, anodizing will look very dull. Anodizing will also fade considerably faster and scratch easier than powder coating.
Thats what I was afraid of. Think we will go the powder coat route.
'82 RD350LC in '81 colours, OEM pipes, UNI filters
'85 FZ750

vmx51
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#9 Post by vmx51 » Mon Dec 19, 2016 9:50 pm

There is a guy advertises on 2 stroke world. he can put the fork lowers back to factory look. He did a set of R5 bottoms for me , they came out good.

tacky1
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Re: Fork Slider (bottoms) Finish

#10 Post by tacky1 » Mon Dec 19, 2016 10:29 pm

Same guy Did mine, He did a fantastic job on Mine, Left them with the original brushed finish and powder coated them clear..

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