I understand that anodizing is a little stronger than powdercoating, but how much? People have stated that anodized rims look beat up after 2-3 months of trail riding, which makes me wonder - why spend the extra $100 for anodizing if it only holds up a little better than powdercoating? Thoughts???
Since no one's responded I'll add what I know about both... 1st of all, anodizing is not a coating, it is a process aluminum (and only aluminum) goes thru to "plate it". Alumina is displaced (electronically charged) and is mixed with the anodizing chemicals becoming harder then is replaced back onto the original body of aluminum so there is a build up but again only 50%. Depending on what type and class of anodize is used you can displace up to (I think) .001 of which 50% mixes with the alumina resulting in a .0005 or 50% penetration. I think the anodize used for your purpose is mainly cosmetic therefore it is thin (roughly .0001) but it does penetrate. As for powder coating it is durable (thick and hard) however it is a surface coating, no penetration happens. Just my 2 cents worth
If your doing Used Rims it will be very hard to get them to look right depending on what color You pick. Gold is a very hard one to make look right the two rims might come out a different shade with a little bit different Aluminum in each rim. The old coating will need to be striped and then the rim buffed and polished being sure to end up with the same surface for both or they will look different. Powder Coating will cover all this up and will look beter with less work. However both will never hold up to off road rideing for very long.