How hard is it to get a powdercoat to match?

**MBH** · 08-12-2008, 12:16 PM

I'm currently fighting (yes, we're arguing - he's not always the most professional) with Steve @ True Forged right now because the centercaps that I bought don't match the satin black finish on the wheels at all.

The reason I want to know is because if he can't get them to match, I will try to get them powdercoated locally so they match the wheels as perfectly as possible.

This all started yesterday, so we'll see where it goes, but I think its pretty low on his part to say they are fine and that nobody has a problem with them (even though I've talked to 3 other TF owners that said it was unacceptable, 2 of which have satin black with satin black caps that said the match on theirs looks much better).

Here are the pictures of what I'm all bent out of shape about, if you have any solutions, please let me know. All I want is the centercaps done right. He's going to call the powdercoater that does all the work for the wheel factory and see if he can get a set powdercoated just for me (although, I don't think the problem is the powdercoating that he normally gets, I think that these were done wrong).

I have more pictures, but you get the gist of it. The center caps almost look like they were painted a matte black as opposed to being powdercoated satin black. The difference is worse in person honestly. They absorb light as opposed to reflect it in a scattered pattern the way the wheel does, they're darker, and they honestly feel soft enough that I could scratch it off with my nail if I wanted to.

Steve and I have had our ups and downs though, so I'm not saying that dealing with him is the worst thing ever, but it can certainly be a test of patience at times- not what I would have expected when buying a set of expensive wheels. These centercaps were ordered back in april btw, I got them the first week of july. Why did it take so long? The first set of caps didn't match well, and he thought I wouldn't be happy with the final product so he had a new set done. He was kind enough to throw a mothers powerball kit in with the order to smooth that over though which was nice of him. Unfortunately, I'm not happy with the final product, and he's saying there is nothing he can do but give me a refund. I want black center caps, and I want them to match. It seems as though all of his other satin black caps are actually satin black, not whatever this is.

What I need from you guys:

I need you guys to help me figure out some solutions to the problem. Maybe there is a local powdercoater that you guys know that is very good at matching, maybe there is a way that I show him that they don't match up well at all - and that others who have bought from him agree.

I don't want a refund, I want the quality product that I think a set of premium wheels like this should come with.

**PunisherStang** · 08-12-2008, 12:35 PM

i dont think it looks half bad, but then again if i saw them in person i would prolly say they should match.....do you want the whole cap powder coated? or the area around the snake?
the guy at TF shouldnt be so retarded about some center caps....i remember dealing with a guy from patriot that made my motor blew, he would just say not my fault an hang up lol great customer service from places these days huh

**MBH** · 08-12-2008, 01:56 PM

Maybe it doesn't look half bad on your computer, but its a completely different finish. If you don't have a good/bright monitor I don't know if you'll be able to see what I'm talking about. I'm on an LCD monitor and its clear as day to me that the caps don't match.

I'm going to talk to him at lunch today to see whats up. Like I said, I've heard back from a few people that have the same set up - satin wheels with satin centers, and they noticed the difference right away and said that theirs look nothing like mine. I'm going to bother those guys for some pictures so I can show that they're not the same finish as the ones that everyone else ordered. I don't think that he gets that. He might be on an old, dark and crappy monitor, or maybe even looking at them on his blackberry. Who knows.

I have a few back up plans depending on his attitude when he responds to me and more importantly, the final result. He's gone from very indifferent, to very upset/defensive, and now he seems to be relatively calm and helpful - but he is still holding it over my head like its my fault that they're bad and its my fault that I have good eyes and pay attention to detail, and thats just wrong.

Any help/input is appreciated. I'll report back, but I still want to hear what you guys could come up with for possible solutions.

**PunisherStang** · 08-12-2008, 02:00 PM

i have the brand new hp laptop, i see the difference in shades that the center caps are gloss black an the wheels are satin, i just was sayin it didnt look half bad like that but i would prolly want them to match as well if they were my wheels. i would say get all the people that you talked to an get some sort of letter or petition with everyones s/n an email or something like that an maybe he will corroperate a little better

**NateSVT** · 08-12-2008, 02:06 PM

If you do take them somewhere local to get them powdercoated, I'd recommend Allegheny Metal Finishing. That's where I took my valve covers and they did a great job. I just brought my gas door and they had like 50 different oranges to chose from. I think it's extremely close to Competition Orange. They did great work and only charged me $70.

**MBH** · 08-12-2008, 03:57 PM

Well, turns out Steve thought I was expecting a 100% match rather than just something pretty close, so I sent him the responses of the other guys that bought from him. It took two people saying "wow that doesn't look anything like mine or the rest of your wheel" and one "WOW thats really far off. If he wants to make a wheel company that competes with iForged, HRE, etc he needs to fix that. Everybody has mistakes, its how they're handled that make the difference."

Good news is that we're working towards getting a new set that actually matches my wheels soon, and he's going to take a picture for me of the set that he was just about to put on his car with them in the wheel. (I'm praying he isn't just going to send me his used ones and that he's above that....)

Nate, if things don't work out I'll go down to that shop with one of my wheels and see what they can do. If not, I'm going to either order a polished w/ cobra logo if they don't look good or a set of iForged caps if he sends me used caps. I wouldn't mind getting the true forged name off my car right now..... :(