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COPYRIGHT 2004 Ehlert Publishing Group
At the race tracks around the country, we've seen vibrant pink frames, wild Candy-Apple-Red A-arms and glowing, fluorescent orange parts. Some of these customized looks are better than others, though they all succeed at making a quad stand out in a crowd. There are many reasons to make your quad unique: Maybe it's easier for family and friends to pick you out at the races, or maybe you just want to be different.
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We have progressed from the painted frames of yesterday. Let us introduce you to a couple of nifty options. Put away the rattle-can yellow, you won't be needing that.
One of the most widely used forms of quad structural coatings is powder coating. This process gives the metal component an electrical ground, and effectively gives the fogged-on powder an opposite charge. Just like a magnet (more on this later), the two charges attract each other, and statically adhere. This leaves a uniform coating of powder, which is then "baked" in an oven at 400 degrees for roughly 20 minutes. The finely ground pigment and resin mixture flows out to a durable and uniform finish.
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Powder, rather than other paints and solvents, is preferred by this industry and the Environmental Protection Agency. The "pre-baked" powder is viewed as a nuisance dust, and is easily cleaned up. Applying powder coating typically requires only a light-duty dust mask. Though, most heavy industry companies require the use of fresh-air suits for employees who spray powder.
We paid a visit to Kent...
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