Powder Coating Help...PLEASE!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 293
Likes: 2
From: Warrensburg, MO
Powder Coating Help...PLEASE!!!
I bought a powder coating system and oven with great expectations for coating brackets, timing cover, oil pan etc. After reading the instructions (english 2nd language of writer), I attempted a piece and ended up with a pile of powder and a cloud of dust. I shook of the excess and ended up with what looked like a fairly uniform coat attached to the piece. I threw it in the oven just for grins and 15 minutes later had a hammer tough, bubbled and peeled timing cover.
I've searched for instructional books or video's with little luck for the home powder coater (although I now know how to run a PC business and where to buy $5000 ovens).
Does anyone out there have a good resource for Powder Coating tips and techniques? Specifically, how to get an even application, what tip to use, how to adjust the air pressure, how to ensure dry air etc? I'd be greatly appreciative.
Jimbo
I've searched for instructional books or video's with little luck for the home powder coater (although I now know how to run a PC business and where to buy $5000 ovens).
Does anyone out there have a good resource for Powder Coating tips and techniques? Specifically, how to get an even application, what tip to use, how to adjust the air pressure, how to ensure dry air etc? I'd be greatly appreciative.
Jimbo
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 89
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From: St. Charles IL
Check out http://www.eastwoodcompany.com/
OR http://www.columbiacoatings.com/
I powder coat for a hobby, have good results, you really need a blasting cabinet, cleanliness is very inportant, if you are doing a cast piece you MUST pre bake to outgas the pores of the metal, if you dont it will bubble. I only use about 10 psi, use as little air pressure as possible so you dont make a mess and waste powder, use a filter/dryer right at the gun also a regulator right at the gun, Pay attention to orange peel while coating, if it looks dimpled before you bake it, it WILL look orange peeled after curing, get some good stripper and practice redoing it untill it works. sounds like your first attempt was not clean enough.
OR http://www.columbiacoatings.com/
I powder coat for a hobby, have good results, you really need a blasting cabinet, cleanliness is very inportant, if you are doing a cast piece you MUST pre bake to outgas the pores of the metal, if you dont it will bubble. I only use about 10 psi, use as little air pressure as possible so you dont make a mess and waste powder, use a filter/dryer right at the gun also a regulator right at the gun, Pay attention to orange peel while coating, if it looks dimpled before you bake it, it WILL look orange peeled after curing, get some good stripper and practice redoing it untill it works. sounds like your first attempt was not clean enough.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
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pre heat the item you want to coat, that will greatly improve the sticking ability. If the cloud does not pull to the item, check the ground, otherwise your gun may not be charging properly. Make sure you store the powder in a dry environment, also make sure the item is dry (pre heating helps there also obviosuly)
Use gloves, work clean, sandblast. Plated parts don't coat well unless you properly treat them but that's beyond what a home coater can do.
Use gloves, work clean, sandblast. Plated parts don't coat well unless you properly treat them but that's beyond what a home coater can do.
