Let me start with a quick introduction, my name is Roger and i own Precision Powder. I offer custom powder coating, custom ceramic coating, and media blasting, and chemical stripping. While I mainly deal in the automotive/motorcycle and construction industries I also refinish paintball markers. I am highly aware of the tolerances involved which markers.
Why powder coating is better than anodizing:
1) I can produce colors that anodizing is not capable of producing, ever
2) I can produce finishes that anodizing is not capable of producing, ever
3) Powder coating offers serious protection again stretches and dings. if you scratch anodizing you also are stretching the metal
4) Powder coating can produce truly metallic colors with color shifting flakes
5) Powder coating can be stripped an indefinite amount of times without effecting the metal
6) Powder coating can be applied to any metal not just aluminum
7) Powder coating can be applied to cast metals where anodizing can only be applied to billet aluminum. While this does not directly apply to paintball its a handy piece of information to know.
Two important things to keep in mind:
1) Powder coating is an external coating only, it will not be applied to interior parts of the marker, those will be taped and plugged off. If your marker is already anodized i will clean it up and go directly over it as there is no reason to remove it.
2) Despite the ridiculous myth your marker will NOT be noticeably heavier, we are talking a 1/10th of an ounce maybe.
Some of you may have already seen some of my work in Kwik175's "Stormwalk Project" thread. For those of you that have not I will post pictures below.
While I'm here I'd like to address the cost factor, pricing of powder coating is difficult as it is based on a number of different factors: number of coats, size of the object, number of pieces, existing condition, finish requested, and custom finishes/colors. Prices for a full marker can range anywhere from $100 for a simple one color job to $350-400 for something completely custom with multiple layers and effects.
Finishes such as: metallics, veins, rivers, textures, wrinkles, chameleon, candy, matte, glossy, cast, and pearls are available. These effects can be compounded when I use more than one on the same part.
While I'm on the topic of finishes, custom finishes will always be a one off job. I will NEVER repeat a finish for someone else if i have already done it for someone else. Its important to me that each custom job stays unique. I will do something close, or something of the same concept but please do not ask me to copy something I have already done because I will not do it.
Now on to some pictures, here are a few of the custom finishes I have done.
Custom metallic wine red candy, with a metallic charcoal
Orange with gold pearl, with a chameleon purple -> blue flake
Completely custom chameleon finish with multiple sized flakes.
If anyone has any questions feel free to post them here.