Powder coating oven setup at home

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Sweet I have been thinking about getting one of those to save a little money on myself on the long run for getting stuff coated.. The part's look great..

[REPO1]

I too just ordered the deluxe kit on EBAY from Columbia Coatings. I don't have an oven to do it in yet though.


Reid

[jmanz69]

Whatch the neighborhood for someone thowing away an oven. They usually throw them out for the burners not working. The oven burner gets a lot less use, so it might still be good. Can't be gas, only use an electric oven. The fumes given off are flamable. DO NOT USE AN OVEN THAT IS USED FOR FOOD!!!!! The fumes and residue are very toxic and will get on food that is prepared in that oven.

[Jace's68]

Another good place to buy a powder coating gun is Harbor Freight. They sell the Chicage Electric gun for $69.

[ronh72c10]

Picked up an oven last thurs for $50, got it wired in today and it works perfectly. Have a digital controller that i might try and wire in. Nobody has a couple of feet of JK (?) thermocouple wire they're not using.

I also cured some test squares before with a 17000 BTU propane IR heater, that I intended to use on the frame.

Ron

[Blue Beard]

Nice score..........board members get things done for free ...........right?

[jmanz69]

I offered to do small parts for people for a very resonable price. Had some people interested, but no one took it up. If you send them to me, I can do brackets, pulleys, and the such. I have chassis black, and chevy orange right now, but if you have a bunch of parts, I'll get whatever color you want. If anyone is really interested, I can make up a price schedule for it. I would do it mostly for the practice, but would like to make a few bucks for my time. I have done parts for friends, but you guys will get a better price than I gave them.

[Gary]

Is this IR heater they're selling for $299 basically the same thing as one of those "tank top reddy heaters" you can pick up at Home Depot for under $100?

I won't link to the Lowes item since they ask for zip and lotsa times the links are broken but this is the description:

Reddy Heater Dual Burner LP Tank Top Heater
Item #: 220634
Model: HD24B

$89.88




* 8-24,000 Btu output
* 6 heat settings
* Heats 190 to 565 sq. ft.
* Single or dual burner use
* 180 degree swivel radius per burner
* Operates on 5, 11, 20 lb. propane cylinders
* Match light ignition
* Hose and regulator included
* Runs 18 to 54 hours on a 20 lb. propane cylinder
* Automatic safety shut-off valve

[jmanz69]

No it's not the same. The tamk heaters will work also though. It's what I use. They are not IR, they are radiant, there is a difference. The IR heaters are electric. They use a special bulb, which is why they are so expensive. You can find them cheaper if you shop around. The tank heater will work fine. You really need a way to find the temp of your part though. You have to maintain a consistant temp or you will have an uneven finish. That's why an oven is best. If you want to use a tamk heater, you have to make sure you use it correctly, or you won't get good results. Do some research on powder coating and familiarize yourself with the technique. It's not rocket science, but it's not idiot proof either. You have to know what you are doing.

[Gary]

http://www.columbiacoatings.com/Infrared.htm

That doesn't look electric to me which is why I was asking.

[jmanz69]

You are right, that is a modified tank heater. They made it so you can move it more. With it on the tank top, you have to move the part. With it like this, you can move the heater. that makes it easier. You can modify one yourself, but it will cost about the same as the one they sell.

[ronh72c10]

I like columbia coatings but I think you can make one of the radiant heater stands for alot less than $300 US. I bought a Coleman 17000BTU radiant tank top heater for $120CAN, a hose for ~$40 CAN(I Think) and an adapter for another $20, all told thats $180 CAN or about $135US. Add some scrap steel, a tank and you've got it and save whatever shipping ends up being.

I've used the tank top heater to cure some 4"x4" squares and had reasonable results. Still haven't built the stand for it though.

Ron

[lock]

Nice thread. I just picked up the columbia gun at harbor freight. Talked the guy down to the sale proce of $59 at long as I bought the 5.99 warrenty... uh yeah Ill take that deal .

Im planning to pick up a used stove which Ill do small parts in. I have one of those propane heaters already. Wont be hard to build a nice stand for it. Im hoping I can powder coat big parts like my frame... Im sure it will be slow but it will save $$$ and thats important to me.

[mcmlxix]

I read that you should never use a gas stove or any kind of open flame. The powder is combustible and likely to ignite and/or explode if in a containe area. Thats why they use electric ovens. The larger ones are convection if I remember correctly. I dont know much about the IR ones....

[jmanz69]

You can use a radiant heater with the catalytic heater. The fumes are combustable, but not really bad. If it were in a gas oven then yes, it would probably catch fire. I use a radiant heater a lot and it has never been a problem. The biggest problem with the radiant heater is keeping the heat consistant. It's very easy to overheat with one of those. You have to babysit it the whole time.

[lock]

Well my home setup is going well. practiced on a mailbox. Im going to try radiant heat and do my frame.

[70c10]

That pic looks cool, almost like a chromed loaf of bread!

[Vince M]

I was in the industrial oven business for 15 years but got out of it. Type J thermocouple wire is red and white and Type K thermocouple wire is red and yellow (US versions). Let me know what you need and I might have some around.

Some good ideas here but a few words of caution. If you use a gas burner for a heat source the byproducts of combustion can react with the powder and cause a dull finish if levels are built up too high. One of the byproducts of combustion is water. Watch your tailpipe when you start you car. The water coming out of the tailpipe is froom combustion. A direct gas fired oven must be vented and have a fresh air source. Electric is much easier and cleaner but a bit more expensive to run.
Recirculating the air in the oven is a good idea but velocity levels must be kept low so as to not blow off the powder.
Good temperature control will yield a better finish and be more repetive time after time.
If you have any questions drop me line or post...

[ronh72c10]

Hi Vince, if you've got about 3 feet of J type thermocouple wire, let me know what you want for it and I'll buy it off of you.

Ron

Originally posted by Vince M
I was in the industrial oven business for 15 years but got out of it. Type J thermocouple wire is red and white and Type K thermocouple wire is red and yellow (US versions). Let me know what you need and I might have some around.

[Gary]

Hope resurrecting older threads isn't a big deal, I FINALLY got around to trying out some powder coating today. I have a really SHINY set of green wrenches now. I got pretty decent results just screwing around coating some cheapie walmart wrenches I had lying around.

Time to get a real oven and setup a place to do powder coating where the mess isn't a huge deal. I have a 16x12 building I need to setup for this, get an old bathtub/shower deal to coat in and a good used oven to cure in. Hopefully the "chrome" coating looks enough like chrome to satisfy me.

[krue]

Let us know how it goes.

[lock]

The chrome from columbia coatings seems good. That mailbox is the chrome before the clear is added.. it will bever be as good a real chrome though. Dont expect that.. but it looks nice.

[minibike]

Eastwood's chrome is pretty good, but all of them dull down once you put the clear over it. If you don't clear coat it, it will oxidize quickly. If you are wanting a polished aluminum type finish, you won't be disappointed.

[bobs409]

Any easy way to double the space is to get another oven and place them facing each other. Fire 'em both up! No need for a gasket, the gap will let the smoke out as mentioned.