Mask-It Sports (Powder Coating)

[slo8140]

With all of the talk about Powder Coating around these parts late last year I got to thinking that I might like a different look on a frame or two.

 

I picked Mask-It Sports to do the Powder Coating. I priced a couple of companies locally and even with the shipping, Mask-It was going to cost the same, so I picked them based on the recommendations of others on the site.

 

I sent them a Champro Pro-Plus Magnesium frame that I wanted powder coated Matte Black and the Titanium Cage from my MVP4000 that I wanted powder coated silver (the original silver was starting to oxidize like some All-Star sliver finishes tend to do over time and it also had a weld that I wanted him to fix).

 

The final result was great. The powder coating is excellent, but it did take more time than the three day turnaround that was advertised (both of these were back-ups so I told him I was not in a rush, but it still took longer than I would have liked).

 

While the result was great there were a few issues along the way.

 

Issue #1- Magnesium Frame does not like the torch

According to the owner, after they used a torch to burn off the previous coating and before they put it in the oven to prepare for powder coating, the frame exploded. Kind of crazy. He thinks it was due to the Magnesium Alloy reacting to the heat. Said it was the first time he has had this happen.

 

Issue #2- Time

According to the owner, the masks had been finished 10 days before I was notified about the issue. He was on a trip for work and the masks were done and he would ship them out when he got back. The masks were to ship on a Friday when he returned from the trip. It was the next Tuesday that I was notified about the issue. The masks had been in his possession for a couple of weeks at this point. Not bashing him, but I just want full disclosure in case someone else wants to use the service.

 

Issue #3- Making things Right

After I was notified of the explosion, I thought I would just be out of a frame. It was a back-up that I got for a really good price when SOS Sports went out of business a couple of years ago. So it was sad to lose it, but not a huge issue. It was then that he offered...at his expense to buy me a Honig's K4 frame and powder coat it Matte Black. Which he did. The powder job is great, but the Honig's mask was not put together well. This is not his fault, but If I would have ordered this frame I would have sent it back and had Honig's get me one that was put together better. As you can see by the images below, the piece that protects the top of the head was not put on straight and the center U shaped bar on the lower part of the mask is crooked. This is not Mask-It's fault, but a Honig's issue. While I wish my Champro Pro-Plus Magnesium frame had not exploded, he did everything he could do within reason to make things right.

 

 

The work on the TI cage was great. Here you see it pictured next to my stock MVP4000 TI.

 

 

The one on the left is the stock MVP4000TI and the one on the right has had the helmet shell painted Matte Black and the cage powdered a silver color with a little metal fleck in it.

 

Here is a close-up of the powder work

 

A shot of just the custom MVP4000Ti

 

 

The bottom Line: I am happy with Mask-It. I will use them again when my stock TI cage needs to powdered in a couple of years...when the finish wears off. I also have a FM25Ti that I will probably send in the next year or so. The finish is failing on it as well. Not sure what All-Star does on their sliver finishes, but they don't seem to hold up on the steel frames or the Ti ones.

 

Mask-it was a great company to work with. If you are in a hurry and are getting your primary mask done and don't have a backup I would contact them first and see what the current turnaround time is. He has a "day job" so sometimes life gets busy for him I am sure.

 

 

 

[BRUMP]

The HSM looks badass

[Jbpump15]

As a machinist by trade it is not at all surprising the mag frame went kablooey! Although it is a very strong and durable metal just like titanium, the down side is they do not react well to direct heat. Just food for thought.

[slo8140]

The HSM looks badass

The one that I had painted Matte had been used for about three years and had some blemishes (fell out of car onto concrete, scuff marks from balls, and the paint on the backplate was starting to chip.

 

I called All-Star and wanted to order just the MVP4000 shell in Matte. They only make the 2500 in Matte. So, I order a glossy black shell and I had been waiting for the right time to get the old one painted. I had a hard time finding someone that could/would do it, but I am happy with it.

 

When the weld broke on my original Ti cage I ordered a new one from All-Star thinking the old one was trash. When I heard that Mask-it could fix the weld I decided to give it a shot. I am very happy with the work. Now I have two HSMs and two standard masks that are good to go.

 

I will probably use the Matte HSM for a while. I really like the look. Having 4 options that I like is great.

 

I am probably going to remove the sun visor from my black frame. It comes down to low and really does not fit the Honig's frame well. I like the look, but I don't like the fact that the lenses extends into the top of the eye slot.

[umpstu]

They look great. I basically like the matte black finish on all products I've seen using it, especially a Dodge Magnum.

[JaxRolo]

I had a magnesium powder coated but I think they sandblasted it.

[Mike Prince]

I like the matte black.  I had my Champro Mag done locally this year in a gloss black, guess (hope) they didn't torch it as it survived.

[slo8140]

I had a magnesium powder coated but I think they sandblasted it.

 

Yeah...I thought they were going to media or sand blast it. I told him it was a Mag, but oh well.....I had not worn it in two years, so it is not a big loss.

 

But man was that thing light. It was even better that I got it for $29.99

[midtnump]

@slo8140,   I'll ask this out of curiosity not trying to pile on, did mask-it say why they tried to burn the old finish off instead of sandblasting it off per their website? Also I just bought an FM4000 about 3-4 weeks ago and that mask is known for loosing its finish, so I have concluded that I will have to do this at some point in the future.

[slo8140]

@slo8140,   I'll ask this out of curiosity not trying to pile on, did mask-it say why they tried to burn the old finish off instead of sandblasting it off per their website? Also I just bought an FM4000 about 3-4 weeks ago and that mask is known for loosing its finish, so I have concluded that I will have to do this at some point in the future.

Not sure they went the torch route. I got the impression they do both. I know they were preparing the mask to go in the oven to open the pores in the metal when it exploded. I don't know much this kind of stuff...that is why I pay others to do it. 

[midtnump]

 

@slo8140,   I'll ask this out of curiosity not trying to pile on, did mask-it say why they tried to burn the old finish off instead of sandblasting it off per their website? Also I just bought an FM4000 about 3-4 weeks ago and that mask is known for loosing its finish, so I have concluded that I will have to do this at some point in the future.

Not sure they went the torch route. I got the impression they do both. I know they were preparing the mask to go in the oven to open the pores in the metal when it exploded. I don't know much this kind of stuff...that is why I pay others to do it. 

I checked a couple of local places and I was getting prices of $45 and up. I just found a few sand size places that have flaked off of my FM4000. Oh and the flat black is great looking especially on the new mask.

[slo8140]

That is about the same prices I found locally. It was going to cost me $95 to have them done local. With shipping both ways (2 frames) it cost me $90.

[wolfe_man]

Just an FYI - Tony is set up to do Magnesium masks now!

[bluetick48]

I’ve got to brag on my man Tony! I just sent him my Allstar 4000MAG and had it powder coated gunmetal. Not only did he do a great job, but he’s also just a great guy and takes a lot of pride in his work. As soon as he finished my mask (he received it on Monday and finished it in less than 24 hours) he sent me pictures  to make sure I was happy. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND using him for any face mask needs. 

[kylejt]

Cool! I'll keep that in mind if my Rampage ever chips. Good to know.

 

[wolfe_man]

6 hours ago, bluetick48 said:

I’ve got to brag on my man Tony! I just sent him my Allstar 4000MAG and had it powder coated gunmetal. Not only did he do a great job, but he’s also just a great guy and takes a lot of pride in his work. As soon as he finished my mask (he received it on Monday and finished it in less than 24 hours) he sent me pictures  to make sure I was happy. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND using him for any face mask needs. 

Can’t wait to see this with pads!

[MadMax]

32 minutes ago, kylejt said:

Cool! I'll keep that in mind if my Rampage ever chips.

I thought the same thing... I'll likely send a DynAlum to get powder coated Sky Blue Metallic (once again, since my +POS ZRO-G has gotten beaten up and knocked out of alignment), and a Rampage so as to do exactly this same Liquid Gunmetal (Tony's best color, isn't it, @bluetick48?? Good pick!)

[BT_Blue]

Now looks like he is doing a dip that allows patterns like an American flag and @Thunderheadscoveted digital camo.

[Thunderheads]

9 hours ago, BT_Blue said:

Now looks like he is doing a dip that allows patterns like an American flag and @Thunderheadscoveted digital camo.

ok ... hang on .....  I appreciate you remembering that awhile ago I was searching to see if I could get a 'digital camo' mask like Ump-Attire had for an Armed Forces game I was scheduled to work.   However, .... that doesn't make digital camo my "coveted" mask style 

[bluetick48]

On 8/4/2020 at 10:27 PM, wolfe_man said:

Can’t wait to see this with pads!

@wolfe_man..... love it!!!!

[wolfe_man]

On 8/10/2020 at 5:30 PM, bluetick48 said:

I love it with the leather!

[bluetick48]

@wolfe_man that’s my thinkings also! I have the black on black 4000MAG also, so I’ll probably go doeskin with this one. 

[BT_Blue]

7 hours ago, bluetick48 said:

@wolfe_man that’s my thinkings also! I have the black on black 4000MAG also, so I’ll probably go doeskin with this one. 

those are super sexy! I have never been sold on the gunmetal. Even though it seems like it might be Tony's most popular color.

But this might sell me on this as my next color.

[Rock Bottom]

Did the FM4000 mag NEED powdercoating, or did you just WANT a new color? I'm hoping the magnesium color is solid throughout, and won't need powdercoating like the steel versions do.  And I agree - that gunmetal looks awesome.

[bluetick48]

20 minutes ago, Rock Bottom said:

Did the FM4000 mag NEED powdercoating, or did you just WANT a new color? I'm hoping the magnesium color is solid throughout, and won't need powdercoating like the steel versions do.  And I agree - that gunmetal looks awesome.

@Rock Bottom “need” is such a strong word, so I’ll tell you why I did it lol.  I had a MAG4000 that I used for about a year or so that looked “faded” to me. I ran across a brand new MAG with tags on eBay for $100. I sold my used one for $140 and used the extra $40 and sent it off to Tony to get coated. I didn’t really like the glare coming off the silver either (haven’t used it since I got it coated). For $40 I’d definitely do it again! I also like the cool/different factor of it as well.