Which is more durable for coating aluminum products

What's the difference in price

 

totally different applications but to answer proffesionally I'd say that the powder would be more durable and cheaper. What do you want to color, what color?

 

I bought a new snowmobile and the rails come bare aluminum.
I want to coat them black

 

rails? sorry, haven't seen snow in a decade If you are not concerned as much about abrasion resistance and are primarily interested in cosmetics I'd say podwer coat. If wear resistance was your primary objective a good hard black anodize will be the ticket.

 

I think anodizing will be more durable, and also add less weight.

 

I'm an anodizer...well materials Eng. at a metal finishing co. If presented with the same question from my customer I'd give the same answer. Weight difference is negligible on smaller parts. Not much is going to give the corrosion resistance that paint offers.

 

http://arcticcat.com/snow/snow.asp?c...l=CROSSFIRE8LE

The rear suspension inside the track is what I want to color black (the front suspension came black)
For the most part it is protected from direct abrasion so I am thinking powder coating will be fine.
We have a few powder coating shops around, not sure who locally can anodize

 

I'd go powder with it for another reason, complete coverage and no risk of it being damaged in process (well significantly lower risk)

 

What type of damage could happen in the anodizing process?

Thanks for your input

 

electrical contact (necessary) could arc damaging parts. It's a remote possibility but potentially always present.