If you live in Gilroy, you already know your way around Highway 101, garlic festivals, dusty roads, and serious agricultural equipment. Gilroy’s rural surroundings are part of its charm, but they can be tough on bare metal.
Mud, sun, road debris, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals, and daily equipment wear all add up. That’s where powder coating comes in.
Powder Coat It is based at 7000 Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz, just a short drive from Gilroy over Highway 152 and through the mountains. Bring us your wheels, frame, brackets, patio furniture, or farm equipment parts. We’ll help you give them a finish that looks sharp and stands up to real use.
Powder Coating vs. Traditional Paint
Traditional paint has its place. But on parts that see heavy wear, it can start looking rough pretty quickly.
Paint can:
- Chip from road debris and equipment use
- Peel when moisture gets underneath
- Fade from constant sun exposure
- Corrode when scratches expose bare metal
- Break down faster around agricultural chemicals, grease, and grime
Powder coating uses a dry blend of resins, pigments, and fillers. We apply it electrostatically, then cure it with heat so the finish melts and bonds into a tough protective layer.
That gives you a smooth, durable finish with excellent resistance to chipping, corrosion, UV exposure, and everyday abuse. It’s not magic armor (nothing is) but it’s a major upgrade over a quick spray can job.
You can learn more about the process in our guide to what powder coating is.
What We Coat for Gilroy Customers
Powder coating isn’t just for show cars. We coat parts for restorations, work vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, boats, homes, and agricultural projects.
Automotive parts
We regularly coat:
- Car and truck wheels and rims
- Brake calipers
- Car and truck frames
- Suspension parts and brackets
- Chassis components
- Small automotive brackets and hardware
A fresh finish can completely change the look of a vehicle. Gloss black, satin finishes, metallic colors, textured coatings, and bold custom colors are all on the table.
Motorcycle, bicycle, and e-bike parts
Motorcycle frames, swingarms, brackets, and wheels take plenty of abuse. So do bicycle and e-bike frames that see trails, weather, racks, and daily commuting.
We coat:
- Motorcycle frames
- Bicycle frames
- E-bike frames
- Motorcycle wheels
- Suspension parts
- Brackets and accessories
Browse our powder coating colors to get ideas before you choose your finish.
Boats and marine hardware
Boat parts live around moisture, salt, spray, and sun. We can coat boat parts and marine hardware to help protect sound metal while adding a cleaner, more personalized appearance.
Patio furniture and household fixtures
Tired patio furniture doesn’t always need to go to the curb. Powder coating can refresh metal chairs, tables, frames, railings, gates, fixtures, and other household pieces.
Farm and agricultural equipment parts
Gilroy’s agricultural community puts equipment to work. We coat parts such as:
- Tractor parts
- Trailers
- Irrigation components
- Brackets
- Gates
- Racks
- Hardware and supports
A durable finish can help protect these parts from moisture, sun, dirt, equipment wear, and exposure to agricultural chemicals.
Ceramic exhaust coating
Standard powder coating isn’t designed for extreme exhaust temperatures. For headers, exhaust pipes, turbo housings, and other high-heat parts, we offer ceramic exhaust coating.
Our ceramic exhaust coating service is designed for parts that live in the hot zone. It helps manage heat, resist corrosion, and maintain a clean finish where ordinary paint would wave the white flag.
Our Powder Coating Process
Good results start long before the powder hits the part. Here’s what your project can expect.
1. Project review
We look at the part, its material, its condition, and how it’s used. We’ll discuss your color, gloss level, texture, prep needs, and any areas that must remain uncoated.
Photos are often enough for a preliminary estimate. An in-person inspection helps us give you the most accurate quote.
2. Surface preparation and media blasting
This is the unglamorous part, and one of the most important.
We remove grease, grime, rust, old paint, and failing coatings. Media blasting creates a clean surface with the right texture for powder to bond properly.
If the metal has deep corrosion, damage, or repairs needed, we’ll point that out before coating. Powder coating can protect good metal. It can’t turn severely damaged metal into new metal.
3. Masking critical areas
Threads, bearing seats, machined surfaces, mounting faces, and other critical areas need protection. We mask or plug them before application so the finished part still fits and functions correctly.
4. Electrostatic powder application
The clean part is grounded, and we apply charged powder with a spray gun. The electrostatic charge helps the powder cling evenly to the metal, including contours and hard-to-reach areas.
5. Oven curing
Next, the part goes into the curing oven. Heat melts and fuses the powder into a smooth, durable coating.
This is where loose powder becomes the finish you actually want.
6. Final inspection
After curing and cooling, we inspect the part for coverage, color, texture, and overall finish. We remove masking and check the areas that need to stay clean for reassembly.
Powder Coating Prices in Gilroy
Every project is different. Size, condition, material, prep work, color, and complexity all affect the final quote. These are our common starting ranges:
- Small parts and brackets: $75-$200 each
- Single automotive wheel: $100-$200
- Set of four wheels: $400-$800+
- Brake calipers: $100-$250 each
- Patio chairs: $200-$300 each
- Patio tables: $400-$600
- Patio furniture sets: $1,500-$2,200
- Bicycle or e-bike frames: $150-$300
- Motorcycle frames: $350 and up
- Boat parts and marine hardware: $100-$500+
Send us photos and details for a project-specific estimate. A photo of the entire part, a close-up of damage or rust, and your preferred color will help us get started.
Why Gilroy Customers Choose Powder Coat It
We started in 2010 and have built our business around careful prep, durable finishes, and custom work that looks good when it leaves the shop.
For Gilroy customers, our Santa Cruz location is an easy drive over Highway 152. You can bring in parts from a vehicle project, motorcycle rebuild, e-bike refresh, patio upgrade, or farm equipment repair.
We also offer shipping options for customers in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Want to see examples? Visit our photo gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does powder coating cost in Gilroy?
Common prices include $100-$200 for a single automotive wheel, $400-$800+ for four wheels, $150-$300 for a bicycle or e-bike frame, and $350 and up for a motorcycle frame. Small parts and brackets typically run $75-$200 each. The final price depends on condition, preparation, size, and finish choice.
How long does powder coating last?
A properly prepared and applied powder-coated finish can last for many years. Longevity depends on the part, exposure, impact, maintenance, and how heavily it’s used. Parts exposed to road debris, farm work, or chemicals may eventually show wear, but powder coating gives them a strong protective starting point.
Can you powder coat aluminum?
Yes. We can powder coat many aluminum parts, including wheels, frames, brackets, and marine hardware. Aluminum requires appropriate preparation and handling, so we’ll review the part before confirming the process.
Can you coat parts with rust or old paint?
Usually, yes, as long as the underlying metal is sound. We remove old paint, rust, grease, and other contaminants through proper cleaning and media blasting. Heavy corrosion, cracks, or structural damage may need repair before coating.
Do tires and bearings need to come off?
Tires, bearings, seals, bushings, and other heat-sensitive or removable components generally need to be removed before coating. We’ll discuss what needs to come off during the project review. The goal is a clean finish without coating areas that need to move, seal, or fit precisely.
Can you match an existing color?
We can help you choose a close match or coordinate colors across multiple parts. Exact matches can vary based on the original finish, material, gloss, texture, and lighting. For custom work, we recommend reviewing available powder colors before finalizing the project.
Can you ceramic coat exhaust headers and pipes?
Yes. Ceramic exhaust coating is designed for high-heat parts such as headers, exhaust pipes, turbo housings, and heat shields. Standard powder coating is not the right choice for those temperatures, so we use a high-temperature ceramic coating system instead.
Ready to Refresh Your Parts?
If you’re searching for powder coating near Gilroy, send us a few photos and tell us what you’re working on. We’ll review the project, discuss finish options, and help you understand the next step.
Request a quote through our contact page or call (831) 435-9558.
Powder Coat It
7000 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Phone: (831) 435-9558
Website: www.powdercoatitsc.com
Email: powdercoatitsantacruz@nullgmail.com
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