Topic: Powder coating

[thelowmax]

Is it realistic to try an powder coat my frame myself. I have been doing some research on this and my biggest question is based on curing and the size one would need for a full frame. Is using heat lamps, instead of an oven, a "half-assed" approach?

[Markcb750]

No, Yes

[calj737]

You can do it yourself. A few things required:

Frame should be blasted clean, clean, clean. There are DIY kits out there that produce good results, but everything depends on prep, application and curing.

Some type of home built "oven" or hot box can work. There's a few examples in threads here. You'll need a decent compressor, a spray gun and oven. Plus materials. Upfront costs are reasonable, and if you prefer, you can do many parts as well as frame.

If you want professional results, guaranteed, obviously see a professional. Others swear by Por brand chassis paint.

[wowbagger]

Most of the cost of powder coating is in the prep. If you can media blast it yourself, you could then bring it to a shop that is equipped properly to coat a frame.

There are tons of videos and instructables on making your own media blaster. Or you can just grab one from harbor freight for as little as $15.

[Ericcb750]

I re-built a 78 cb750 this winter and after breaking it all down I was thinking of doing the frame myself. I ended up bringing it along with a bunch of other parts (swingarm, trees, etc) to get them professionally done and it came out Amazing! I could not be happier the whole bike looks brand new. Maybe you could try doing a little piece first and if it comes out good then do the rest??

[PeWe]

Only one frame? It must be cheaper to leave it to the professionals that have the equipment needed.
http://www.powderperfect.com/diy.asp

I have thoughts about painting 2 CB750 tanks + side covers with normal paint. For that I need a compressor that I need anyway plus a cheap Bergen mini spray gun. Will be cheap and hopefully good result

[bucklev]

I worked a spell in a powder coat facility. I would definatly say heat lamps wouldnt get it done. Definatly want an oven big enough to hold your frame. However smaller parts are very doable in your oven...as long as the misses dont mind.

[bjbuchanan]

Send the frame out and do the rest of the job in the biggest electric toaster oven you can find

[dlhoulton]

Google PC heat lamps and your going to see they are kind of expensive. I sent my frame, swing arm and center stand out for powder coating and it cost me $86. Just talked with the people for a while and got a good price. Then I went to Harbor Freight and got the $69 PC gun. Went to Lowes and got a large storage tub and made a coating cabinet. Used shop vac for ventilation.  Found examples on internet on how to make it. Ordered my PC powders from Eastwood. As for air a small compressor will do. I did mine with a 5 gal compressor. Went to Walmart and found the largest countertop oven I could find. Works great. I was able to PC everything except the above mentioned.
As for the PC gun the HF only comes with two cups, but you can go to Caswell plating web site and they have the same cups for $2.99 that fit the HF gun perfectly. 
The bottom line is DIY PC is doable with just a little effort and not a lot of cash. As for the frame, well your going to have to be creative and spend a little money if your going to do it yourself.

[Franky]

I've got one of these guys: http://nordicpulver.dk/index.php?route=product/product&path=20&product_id=51 and it works really well.

+1 on the thorough prepping. Be very anal about it. Otherwise it's quite easy and both the gun + powder isn't that expensive. Neither is an old (kitchen-) oven.

[Stev-o]

Where's Powderman, he will not be happy...

[Franky]

Also, you could build a big ass oven from scrap - plenty of guides on the ol' net. I have only done smaller items that fit in a regular kitchenoven.

[dlhoulton]

I did a quick google and found out that PC lamps cure powder coating from the outside. Not getting the metal (frame) up to the high temps of regular oven curing. If not done right it can leave the coating brittle then you will have problems down the road. Oven curing produces a more durable coating.

[wowbagger]

Steve-O's right. Drop Powderman a PM. He can answer any questions you may have and help you avoid costly mistakes.

[thelowmax]

No, Yes

Classic!

[thelowmax]

POWDERMAN!!!! HEEEEEEELP!

[thelowmax]

My main issue is the oven. I've read (and have been told here) that without getting the entire piece heated thoroughly, you defeat the whole process. I've called around and gotten some crazy (in my opinion) prices. The lowest was for the powder coat (with no prep) for $350. Anybody know anybody in the Boston area that's reasonable (for a cheapskate like me)?

[Markcb750]

I guess I have been spoiled I pay $150 for Frame, swingarm and misc parts. 

He bakes off the old, wire brushes, then protects the threads.  Puts a nice thick old coat on.  Google my 67 Mamba restore to see the latest.

[Lostboy Steve]

I powdercoat myself. I turned an old charcoal smoker into an oven with a few old heating elements. Most stuff comes out really well once I blast and clean everything. I even got into two coat applications. Anything large like a frame I still send out. The only reason I do the small / medium stuff myself is time. My powdercoater is a great guy and he takes good care of my wallet and parts, but he takes a little too long sometimes.

[Jayelwin]

I had a frame, center stand, swing arm, and triple tree excellently powdercoated in NJ for $200.

[bjbuchanan]

He is trying to take you for a ride, send it to someone else. Some of the guys on here have gotten great deals on the stuff but what the Boston guy is quoting is too high for "a" frame. Maybe the frame plus a bunch of other crap too

[chewbacca5000]

My main issue is the oven. I've read (and have been told here) that without getting the entire piece heated thoroughly, you defeat the whole process. I've called around and gotten some crazy (in my opinion) prices. The lowest was for the powder coat (with no prep) for $350. Anybody know anybody in the Boston area that's reasonable (for a cheapskate like me)?

Any powdercoater who will take your $350 and not do any prep is a hack.  Don't walk run the other way.  As far as price it's like anything else. 

A NOS rear fender on Ebay $300 bucks, a rusty old one $35 bucks.  Who every you take it to make sure they have a reputation for quality.  I joined Powder365.com to learn about PC so I could do MC frames for the "herd", and here is what I found.

In order to get the quality results that I am after you need the right equipment.  Don't get me wrong anyone can powdercoat springs or round tube and do an ok job.  The real test is doing things that are bigger than an inch or two wide like fenders.

My PC guy did front and rear fender, fork ears, battery box, tool tray, brackets, swing arm, foot pegs, top triple clamp, fender bracket all for around $325.  He is an extreme perfectionist and takes pride in his work.

As for prep he did the whole thing.

These guys who are in business spend thousands of dollars in equipment.  A Gema Opiflex powdercoat system can run up to $6,000 bucks!

And yes the professional equipment gets better results.

[Powderman]

Most of the cost of powder coating is in the prep. If you can media blast it yourself, you could then bring it to a shop that is equipped properly to coat a frame.

There are tons of videos and instructables on making your own media blaster. Or you can just grab one from harbor freight for as little as $15.

No reputable shop will give you a discount if you blast it yourself and will reblast again if you bring it that way. There's no telling how many oily hands have touched and left finger prints on it that will play havoc on it later. I've never seen a DIY home blast job that was acceptable for coating. If you want my warranty on it I have to do all the proper prep.

[Powderman]

I guess I have been spoiled I pay $150 for Frame, swingarm and misc parts. 

He bakes off the old, wire brushes, then protects the threads.  Puts a nice thick old coat on.  Google my 67 Mamba restore to see the latest.

You got what you paid for. Everything that place did is wrong. Baking off the old paint takes temps in 800-900*, not something you want to subject your frame to. Wire brushing is inadequate for cleaning and leaving the proper profile for coating to be durable and long lasting. A nice thick coat is the best way to guarantee failure, thick coatings weaken the final finish and are prone to chipping and flaking off.

[Powderman]

I quoted a couple of specific posts but here's the rest. As Chewwy mentioned getting a Harbor Freight (total POS) you can have decent results with small parts. Small parts rarely give you issues. There is so much to know about powder coating it is like any other business, with time you understand the "issues" you will run into and how to correct them and avoid them in the future, and there are many. You have to understand outgassing, back ionization, Faraday cage effect, salt contamination ,oil and grease impregnation from years of use, etc., etc, etc. To do a frame requires an oven thats at least 4'x3'x5' minimum and it must maintain a 400* temp so the part will reach that temp and stay for 10 minutes. The heat in the oven needs to be uniform and not hot at the top and cooler at the bottom where both will have negative issues while the center that was at 400* will be correct. An oven the size of mine runs $2-$3k. Ovens run on a 220v circuit so you need the proper electrical hook up to run one.Yes you can build one cheaper but it's a waste of money and space unless you plan on using it a bunch. I get between $150 and $250 for a frame depending on size and intricacies. I am not the cheapest in town but I don't try and compete on a financial level, I offer a level of quality and service unmatched by the other guys.
Is that what you were waiting on Steveo? Any other questions?