A step backwards...
As we sit in wait for our table mechanic, both pocket and I encountered a setback. While reorganizing some stuff in my room, I dragged the corner of a box of carpet tiles over the top of one of my foot castings. No problem, powder is tough as nails. Well, not the end result from the guy we used. The powder transferred from the foot casting to the cardboard box, leaving behind a skid mark on the casting!
Needless to say, I was shocked, pissed and perplexed. I took a popsicle stick to the back side of one of the pocket castings. Same thing: powder transferred to the popsicle stick. Pocket did the same with one of his castings which yielded the same result. My casting:
I sourced some feedback from a powder coater I know on the East Coast through affiliation on a car forum. She informed me the part wasn't properly prepped, too much powder was applied, it wasn't properly cured and a clear coat was not used. Apparently, silver, gold and even some reds require a clear coat for durability and UV protection. I confirmed this on the manufacturer's website. Pocket received the same information from another coater he came across when we were researching powder coaters. They both went on to say the parts need to be blasted, out gassed, cleaned, reshot with the base then the clear applied. It is not as simple as applying a clear coat over the existing base. There is a window in the procedure and that window had long since closed.
Armed with our defective parts and a little bit of knowledge, we confronted our powder coater. His reply? "That's powder coating. People think it's bullet proof but it isn't." I was shocked. We aren't expecting bullet proof but I am expecting it not to transfer. I couldn't imagine transferring powder onto my $3K Rauenzahn Double Full Splice cue. I then told him it needed a clear. The numbskull scurried for the manufacturer's literature thinking he was going to prove me wrong. There it was in black and white, "Clear Coat recommended for durability and UV protection." He surmised saying, "Looks like it does need a clear. No problem, bring all the pieces by and I'll shoot a clear over them." Knowing this was not the proper action to take, further confirming our suspicion of ineptitude, we decided it best to part ways and have them redone by a more knowledgable coater. I was going to ask for a refund but it was clear there was no way he was going to give us our money back as he took zero blame for the defective job we received. ZERO. Live and learn I guess. All powder coaters are not created equal. Pocket's pieces are being worked on as I type by the same coater that provided him with advice and knowledge and I will be dropping mine off on Monday. Hopefully, the second time is the charm.