Galvanize a bumper?

[grinchy]

I'm lucky to live in a big city with a healthy industrial complex. I can get a bumper powdercoated or bedlined or galvanized. Galvanizing is cost competitive with the other treatments. This is real galvanizing in a 900 deg full immersion bath.

I've read lots of threads about powdercoating, and seen lots of pics of that. I've seen lots of bedlined bumpers, and lots of pics of that.

I haven't seen ANY threads or pics on galvanizing, so I am assuming it is just flat not as good.

This is an honest question - which is better for a bumper? It's a rear bumper, so it's going to get dragged, scraped, etc. Galvanizing propaganda says it is self healing - the idea of not having to touch up paint the bumper is appealing . . .

Thoughts?

 

[Mixelplix]

Perhaps I'm not familiar with the type of galv. you're referring to, but I would imagine bumpers are rarely galv. because it looks bad.

In commercial construction it's not uncommon to get exposed structural steel galvanized. While certainly durable, and somewhat self healing it's 'holy cow that's reflective' shiny and has a stippled irregular texture.

 

[mcgaskins]

TJM used to and maybe still do sell galvanized bumpers but I’ve never seen one in the US. Probably because most consider it to be super ugly and flashy

 

[ForrestGrump]

It's probably a bit more expensive, but it's definitely possible to do a powder coating as part of the galvanization process. This is on the east coast but it does show that it's very possible.

 

[RickC5]

Agree with Mixelplix. Every piece of galvanized steel I've ever seen is ugly looking & not what I would want on my vehicle. Powder coating over a galvanized surface may be fine & might look OK. I sure would want to see multiple samples of what you're interested in before spending money on it, but that's just me.

 

[linuxgod]

I am not an expert but I would have some concerns about corrosion due to dissimilar metals. Dissimilar Metals in Contact | American Galvanizers Association.

If you are concerned about scratching the paint and are OK with a non-painted surface, why not stainless steel?