When you rent shop space in an industrial park, your neighbors can help you succeed. Having specialty shops nearby that can do machine work, auto paint, welding and such can be both convenient and economical. At our old rented shop, we had a weekend welder next door and a body shop two properties down, but then – we moved. Paying rent is not as nice as having your own place, especially when that place is on your own property mere steps from your back door. But then we realized that we moved away from our specialty friends.
Enter Papkes Customs who is literally next door. Ron Papkes is a Pennsylvania transplant who does a lot of cool things in his backyard building, including powder coating, ceramic coating and graphic transfer – you know, the thing were you dip the part in water with a graphic floating on top, transferring it to the part. He also does dustless blasting.
And Papkes Customs is right next door.
Ron has done many sets of wheels for us including a variety to phone dials and a set of cookie cutters. He has powder that is “Porsche silver” that duplicates the finish of the stock phone dials. We have also started to experiment with cam towers, coming up with a “German Flag Edition” cam cover in Yellow, Red and Black. One-color cam towers are also available in just about any color you want. And color-coordinated intakes are also possible.
What is also amazing is “proximity.” Since we are so close together, getting parts to and from is a breeze. But what about those who many not be in the neighborhood?
Ron is able to turn around most jobs in a day or two. It starts with blasting the part, and in some instances he then bakes the part first to get all the gasses out of the metal prior to powder coating. He then applies the powder, bakes, and in some cases applies clear, then bakes again. While it is primarily used on metals, other materials can be powder coated – depending on its ability to withstand heat.
Dustless blasting is a big part of the coating process, used to get rid of the old finishes on the metal. Dustless blasting also does not create excess heat in the process, therefore not deforming the metal. Wheels come out really well.
If you want interior dash or door pieces done with cool graphics, or even metal parts under the hood or in the suspension, Ron can do it for you. Carbon fiber, skull graphics, American flags – you name it. It can appear on your car or motorcycle part.
Check his website and see what Ron can do for you. Live outside of central Florida? Ship your parts and Ron will get them right back out to.
Ron has done lots of wheels and other parts for us here at 924S944.com. On the wheels, the center caps have the Porsche crest done in color – and in powder. They’ll last a long time.
Papkes Customs
1021 Saddle Hill Rd
DeLand FL 32720
386-564-0122
