Powder Coating

[Scott Johnson]

Have any of you used any of the home powder coating systems? How do they work? Which ones are the best? I am thinking about buying one, but wanted to check with some board members that may have some experience with them.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

The eastwood company sell's a very good set-up just don't use the wife's oven..

[minibike]

I have the harbor freight unit. It works fine, and can be had for $60 when on sale.

[Scott Johnson]

MINIBIKE,

Checked out your web site, looks like you are doing well on your truck project. I am in Monroe LA, not far from you at all. Thanks for the info. on the Harbor Freight unit, I was kinda thinking about buying one, but wasn`t sure if it worked good.

[jimfulco]

Can chrome-plated stuff be powder coated?

[minibike]

Yes, chrome can be coated, but I have had mixed results. It works best over a blasted surface.

The Harbor Freight gun works fine. It would be nice to have adjustable voltage, but you can't get that for under $700 (The Hotcoat PRO gun has adjustable voltage).

I have probably blown 50 lbs of powder through mine, with no problems. Sometimes, since you don't have the ability to crank up the voltage, you have to let the powder melt, bring it back out of the oven, flog it with another coat, and then put it back in to cure to get a good thick coating.

[Scott Johnson]

Where do you get the powder? Do you have to use high heat masking tape? Mst of my parts will be black and I want them to shine, do I use the high gloss black or black chrome powder?

[Riveted1]

Hey Scott, which powder you use is up to you. You get more "shine" from the Black Chrome, but it may/may not have the actual qualities you are looking for. Check out www.eastwoodco.com and www.columbiacoatings.com for powders. Someone posted in another thread that they had always had good dealings w/Columbia. I'm new to powder coating, too, so that's about all the info I can give ya.....

[Riveted1]

Never mind! I just saw the Mirror Gloss Black @ Columbia Coatings, and that looks shinier than Black Chrome!

[Riveted1]

I'll be damned if drinkin' doesn't screw up your thought processes! It's "Super Mirror Black"

[minibike]

www.tigerdrylac.com has excellent powders, but they are not suited well for smaller quantities. It goes a long way. I did my frame, a-arms, rear axle, a few motorcycle frames, a bunch of brakcets, and a lot of other misc stuff with about 10 lbs.

[katdaddy]

How do you bake something like your frame dude? I've been interested in buying the powder coat kit for a while now. Just don't see how I can get many parts in a regular oven.

What kind of other ways can you bake it?

[minibike]

You have to use heaters and an infrared temperature gun. It works, but is not as good as an oven. Takes a really, really, really long time to do. I spent 12 hours on the frame. I have a regular oven in my garage that is on casters. You can pick one up for $50 or so at a used appliance store. If it will fit in the oven, the results are excellent. You can get good results with the heaters, but you have to stay with it constantly checking temps.

[katdaddy]

I am trying to figure out an economical way of doing it. Does it have to be infrared?

[Scott Johnson]

Thanks for all the info. guys. It`s great to have input from members who have had experience with the coating process. I have some 220v heat guns that I use for shrink wrapping things at my store that will put out 1300 degrees f. On the frame do you have to bake it in sections, or do you just put it in a room and keep it hot?

[minibike]

Let me clarify...the infrared part is the thermometer. Although it is not recommended to have an open flame anywhere around the airborne powder, I use propane heaters to heat with. Something with a fan, like a blower would not work at all...it would blow the powder right off the frame.

I apply the powder, let all the dust settle, then fire up the heaters. An electric setup would probably be better, if it were not fan forced.

[minibike]

Nothing beats an oven, however. If I were doing a show car, I would have had it done. Heck, If I weren't so dang cheap, I would have had it done.

[00droptopSS]

Minibike: I have a paintbooth oven for my bodyshop do you think it would get hot enough to cure powder coating?

I think I'm on to something here

[minibike]

I doubt it...not sure though. You would need around 350-400 degrees to do most common powders. I would imagine the paint booth would be around 170?

[00droptopSS]

I think 185 max, but I also some short wave heat lamps that would work.

It still has me thinking?

[HotRod929]

How easy would it be to do your own intake in clear or silver? Can you use the oven for food after baking the powder coated intake in there if you give it a good cleaning? Thanks

HotRod

[minibike]

I wouldn't use the same oven. If the intake would fit int the oven, which it probably would, coating it with chrome or silver is not hard at all. Just remember that the Chrome requires a clear topcoat. There are fumes coming off the oven while the parts are curing which would really stink up the house.