DIY Powder Coating?

[Doki]

Anyone done it? Got decent results? Idea of setup costs for the gear?

[Adrian Brentnall]

Not DIY - but did some work with a company who did it professionally.

They used to 'blow' powder onto most things - sort of a vacuum cleaner in reverse that picked up the fine powder as it blew. Also had some kind of electrostatic arrangement that attracted the powder onto the workpiece. Need an oven big enough to 'cook' the piece in.

A sister company to this one used to do smaller items (lampshades etc)

- and I seem to recall that they actually did a 'heat / dip into powder / oven' process on some items - might work if your items are small enough....

A very messy process, though - the powder gets 'everywhere' !

Regards Adrian Suffolk UK ======return email munged================= take out the papers and the trash to reply

[Doki]

"Adrian Brentnall" wrote in message news: [e-mail]...

Aye. Need some wheels doing and might get the clobber to DIY if it's worthwhile. Got a decent sized kiln here...

[Adrian Brentnall]

I think it might be one of those jobs where it's best left to the professionals - especially if it's only a handful of things that you're doing.

I can't quite remember the temperatures involved - seem to remember it was 200 - 300 degrees - but there were quite a few 'variables' to consider (I was helping them with ISO 9000 quality systems - and an awful lot of the 'control' came under the magic phrase 'based on the skill & experience of the operator').

There was a skill to getting a uniform thickness of coating - the electrostatic technique helped here as they could blow the powder 'past' the workpiece and it would go round behind it and stick to the back of it - clever !

You also don't want to breathe the stuff - its not good for you !

Don't want to put you off - but it's not really a DIY technique

Adrian

======return email munged================= take out the papers and the trash to reply

[dingbat]

Used to have a workshop next door to a powder-coating shop.

Don't DIY it - it's an awkward process to tool up for and it's _very_ tweak-sensitive. If you try and get a new coating line working from scratch you can expect a large failure rate until you have the kiln temperature / time profile dialled in just right.

[Rob Morley]

What sort of scale? For small stuff you can probably get by with a domestic oven, a vacuum cleaner and a sturdy cardboard box. Results can be very variable depending on preparation of the surface to be coated, heat control, the powder that you use ... Is there a particular reason that you want to use powder coating?

[gentlegreen]

"Adrian Brentnall" wrote in message news: [e-mail]...

It's cheap as chips to get it done - find someone who does motorcycle frames (I've had a couple done in the past) and the chances are they'll do a good job for you. The main thing is to make sure there's no grease hiding in crevices - though the chances are the sprayer will put the items through a degreasing tank first.

The first job I had after school was powder coating rotadex file thingies and TV stands.

I had a mishap when I were a lad.... I tried to spray a motorcycle frame in a steel shed using yacht enamel - in the spray gun that used to be supplied with Elecrolux vacuum cleaners in the

60s.

Everything seemed OK until I scratched my head ....

(I dread to think what the inside of my lungs must have looked like)

Swarfega plays havoc with split ends !

.

[Doki]

Well, it'd be for car parts (wheels most specifically, but other bits and bobs) and it's got a reputation for being stronger than paint.

[Baz]

[Rob Morley]

Two-pack epoxy/polyurethane paints are very tough, and probably less hassle than trying to get powder coating to work properly.

[MrBlueSkye]

My business used the services of quite a few powdercoating companies over the years, Don't waste your time, send them out but be sure that the company you send them to has a good reputation. Powdercoating companies are 2 a penny, the majority in my experience are out and out amatuers, the end result being thin coating and most often peeling of the coating at some not to late date in the future. Beside the high setup costs of the machinery involved powders are expensive being available ISTR in 1cwt or similar sized bags at about £125 a bag. (figures are only rough) Don't forget what a large range of colours you will need to stock and you will get orders for colours that you will use once and the rest of the bag will sit for years. How will you make that pay. Additionally you will need to have an area for preparation, a caustic soda bath at least and in the case of wheels ISTR many have them glass bead blasted first prior to Powdercoating. Ring round and get a price for a set of four wheels to be done then weigh that against all the above. There's only one sane conclusion to reach. MBS

[Doki]

Aye. Not quite as tough as powder coating. I might give it a go though, as I've got to sort out the gear for 2 pack to paint the car.