i had mine and grape's done, cost about 10 bux a spring including sandblasting paint from old ones. ohlins springs are powdercoated already, no blasting required. you can change color from powder coat to powder coat on a substrate, but anything that has paint should be stripped bare for proper adhesion. powdercoating is the best method, you can damn near hit it with a hammer without hurting it. as far as its not gonna last, thousands of miles on and off trail good bad and ugly conditions my springs look like new. ski