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Clear coat options for a steel commuter bike

A rookie question: My friend and I, both students of engineering design are starting a bike company targeted at bike-commuters in Chicago. All bikes are Chromoly steel. We want to build a bike with a raw clear finish that showcases the steel. It's been suggested that the best way to go about it is acid washing the frame, rinsing and then using a clear powder coat for the best finish. While this finish will look great on a bike, I want to give customers a bike that will withstand the winters in Chicago without flaking or rusting. No point having a great looking bike that has to be kept indoors all the time. Are there products or processes that can provide a great clear coat finish to steel and also protection from rust?

Sandeep Gopal
Student/entrepreneur - Chicago, Illinois
September 14, 2011

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Hi, Sandeep. I doubt it.

You could try grit blasting, followed by an electrophoretic prime coat, followed by either powder coating of a clear coat, or an automotive 2-pack clearcoat. But remember that there is a reason that auto manufacturers use galvanneal steel plus phosphatization before their e-coat primer, and it is that it affords them maximum corrosion resistance.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 15, 2011

Thanks for replying. Appreciate your help.

Sandeep Gopal [returning]
- Chicago, Illinois
September 21, 2011