best type of kick plates?

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:13 pm

ello chaps

so i gather one has a choice of kick plates:

1. Aluminium, if you have a concours Series MM

2. Steel, painted silver (or body colour if you are a bit of a rebel)

3. Stainless steel.

Which type is best, dudes?

Presumably kick plates get a lot of knocks and wear, and I wear big boots usually and am sometimes a bit clumsy

- does one type scratch or dent more easily than the other? (I'm kind of discounting the aluminium type as I don't even know if they are available any more - is that right?

)

Could you get the steel type powder-coated to be more durable maybe?

Whaddaya reckon?

juliet xx

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:17 pm

ps looking at hadrian's web site they call them "door tread plates"

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:20 pm

option 2, and waxoyl the kick plates on the inside and on the bit that the sill finisher bolts to, basically paint all you cant see with waxoyl.

Power coating can still rust underneath the coating over time.

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:43 pm

We generally fit the stainless versions but paint them body colour, if the customer requires. The reasoning being that the kick plate is always in contact with the under door seal, and is prone to kicks and scrapes , so you may loose some paint but they will not rust.

Post by **tickman** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:31 pm

aluminium is a soft material so would mark quite easily, steel we all know what happens to that don`t we! and stainless is left!
if you want to keep the stainless shiny you can get stainless steel polish/pads.
johnathon, what do you treat the stainless with before painting? and does it last well?, just out of interest.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:53 am

do the stainless ones scratch or mark easily?

Post by **tickman** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:40 pm

stainless should not scratch easily, however you said you wear boots!
at the end of the day what are you after as paint can be scratched!
i am not sure what grade of stainless the kick plates are made of as i have never seen a set on a car.mine are just painted silver (by the former keeper) and i must admit it does not bother me as you only see it getting in. don`t notice getting out!

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:10 pm

Re -painting kick plates, either scotchbrite, or 240 d/a the outside face only, etch prime, prime, and top coat. For best results spray them clear over base, i.e a base colour then several coats of laquer. The paint will last well and the stainless will never rust. Only downside to the stainless kick plate is that the quality of pressing is pretty average.

Post by **tickman** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:39 am

thanks for the info jonathon.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:44 am

so jonathon do you reckon that painted stainless are more durable than plain stainless?

Post by **chickenjohn** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:02 am

Juliet, while you're at the platers, why not get the kick plates Zinc (cadmuim, or gold!!!) coated?, then prime and paint to taste and waxoyl all the hidden bits (these are the bits that rot!).

just another idea to throw in!

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:51 am

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm gold plated kick plates mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:34 pm

Juliet, well the paint on them certainly will not add to their life expectancy. The key is that they are stainless and will not rust, the painting is only for personal preference. My choice would be for stainless all the time, for the difference in cost over mild steel they make economic sense too.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:17 pm

gotcha - thanks so much for answering all my inane questions jonathon