Dear Fellow Sailors:
Any suggestions on correcting the esthetics of my winches? Paint, prep etc
Any suggestions on correcting the esthetics of my winches? Paint, prep etc
Tired Winches
- Thread starter Plymouth Sailor
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,089
If "Pretty" is the desire, and new is not a consideration, then you might take the winch apart and have the outer drum chromed. Look for a bike shop that chrome's motorcycle parts and ask that they add your winch parts to their next batch.
They should be able to help you regarding the preparation of the part
Paint will not work for very long.
They should be able to help you regarding the preparation of the part
Paint will not work for very long.
when you take them apart and before re-chroming, make sure the internal gears and pins are in good condition to ensure they are worth refinishing.
you could probably send the drums out to be chrome plated again, however that might be more expensive than replacements
For the group.
What about powder coating?
From my past life I remember there were varying hardnesses of coatings. We had aluminum bin scales that would wear quickly from the silica sand moving through them. We had them powder coated with two colors, yellow warning coat, then grey topcoat. When I retired a year later none of them showed any yellow. Yep, I got the idea of two color coats from bottom painting,.
What about powder coating?
From my past life I remember there were varying hardnesses of coatings. We had aluminum bin scales that would wear quickly from the silica sand moving through them. We had them powder coated with two colors, yellow warning coat, then grey topcoat. When I retired a year later none of them showed any yellow. Yep, I got the idea of two color coats from bottom painting,.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,089
No reason why if you like the look that you could not powder coat the winches. I have not seen such an approach.
Old days, winches were wood till they wore out. Metal came along and it served the need for a strong material that wore well.
Perhaps Powder Coating is the winch of the future.
Old days, winches were wood till they wore out. Metal came along and it served the need for a strong material that wore well.
Perhaps Powder Coating is the winch of the future.
I think you might have adhesion problems with powder coating bronze...
dj
dj
The least expensive way would likely just be to remove the flaking chrome coating and just let the winches be bronze... That will look real old school... LOL (Your winches will wear out faster)
These guys aren't too far from you:
US Chrome Corp. of Connecticut
175 Garfield Avenue
Stratford, CT 06615
Phone: 1-800-637-9019
Fax: 203-386-0067
dj
p.s. you might be too much of a small fry for them - but they might know someone else in the area that can help you re-chrome these.
The least expensive way to make your winches look presentable is to remove the chrome entirely. You'll be left with a bronze finish. Make sure you use personal protection and have adequate ventilation.
1.Remove all internal winch parts such as gears, bearings, pawls and springs.
2. Mix 1/3 part hydrochloric acid to 1 part water in a vat used for chemical mixtures (like a heavy-duty plastic bucket, etc.) to produce a 30% acid solution. ...
3. Submerge the chrome-plated winch in the solution until chrome strips off.
4. Wash the winch thoroughly in soap and water, and rinse before drying.
1.Remove all internal winch parts such as gears, bearings, pawls and springs.
2. Mix 1/3 part hydrochloric acid to 1 part water in a vat used for chemical mixtures (like a heavy-duty plastic bucket, etc.) to produce a 30% acid solution. ...
3. Submerge the chrome-plated winch in the solution until chrome strips off.
4. Wash the winch thoroughly in soap and water, and rinse before drying.
You can replace a standard winch similar to that for much less than you think. Here's a pair of 16's , single speed, not self tailing, for $100. Look like they'll polish up nice. Those small single speed standard winches are not costly even new. But, I think you're question is more about an over the counter cleaning product rather than complete refurbishing.
My head went to a similar place. I was thinking of sandblasting followed by either powder coating or an anodized coating process. It would give a matt finish but I think it would look nice. I would go with a black coating.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,089
Who knows, perhaps chartreuse, puce or even a tangerine might add a bit of flair to his deck hardware. Start a new trend in boat bling. Spice it up.
I've always thought if I had boat parts that needed to be cleaned up I'd look into powder coating blue to match the boat's boot stripe.
My boom needs to be painted. When I'm ready I'd plan to look at a couple of the area powder coating shops to see if they could do it.
My understanding is if the metal can withstand a 300 degree oven and accept electrostatic charge, it can be powder coated.
My boom needs to be painted. When I'm ready I'd plan to look at a couple of the area powder coating shops to see if they could do it.
My understanding is if the metal can withstand a 300 degree oven and accept electrostatic charge, it can be powder coated.
You'd need a powder coating bath long enough to have your boom fit. They do have them, one of the things that often gets powder coated are guard rails, so there are long baths. Not sure if you'll find one to handle a mast, but should be able to find one long enough to do a boom.
The temperature and electrostatic charge are fundamental to first steps of being able to be powder coated, but then you also have adhesion to the substrate. In the case of steel and aluminum those are the bread and butter base metals for powder coaters.
Bronzes are a bit more complex. You'd have to know the specific alloy and have a surface preparation method developed for that alloy or the long term viability of the coating could be compromised. The second problem is is that the rough surface used for friction where your line wraps will be pretty much obliterated by powder coating. That's quite a thick coating and would really smooth that area out quite a lot.
dj
I agree with all points Dave. IF I was doing winches I'd hope to not do the rope drums, just the tops and bottoms, leaving the rope drums bronze.
When I was having the material bins powder coated the primary reason was for the slick surface it provided so material did not stick to the coating. Durability was required to avoid contamination.
All good points.
'In the late 70s, early 80s I rebuilt two Buick Gran Sports with GM big block engines. I took all the engine parts I could to a chrome platter. In my area I now find more shops doing powder coating than chrome plating, at least for small parts.
When I was having the material bins powder coated the primary reason was for the slick surface it provided so material did not stick to the coating. Durability was required to avoid contamination.
All good points.
'In the late 70s, early 80s I rebuilt two Buick Gran Sports with GM big block engines. I took all the engine parts I could to a chrome platter. In my area I now find more shops doing powder coating than chrome plating, at least for small parts.