Topic: DIY Powder Coating

[Terry in Australia]

I bought a powder coater on EBay a year or two ago, but haven't used it yet. I get my frames done locally, it costs around 200 bucks to get one abrasive blasted then powdercoated, so it's not worth the trouble of building an oven and then having this big thing sitting in my garage when I'm short of space, as it is. I've got a little electric oven in my garage that I bought on EBay locally, for 2 dollars.

I thought the EBay unit would be good enough for the smaller parts that I worry might get lost at the powdercoaters, and might save me a few bucks too. I'm surprised that people are using propane powered ovens though, I thought that was a powdercoating "No-no"? Cheers, Terry.

[paulages]

Hoping to pick the brain of some of you DIY powdercoaters...

My garage has a single 15 amp ungrounded circuit feeding the whole thing.  I know that eventually I'll need to upgrade out there but in the meantime I have an empty basement room with more than enough space to put blasting cabinet, small paintbox and an oven and then I'd just need a 20 ft. 220 extension to get to my dryer's outlet, pretty easy. My only concern is ventilation, especially since I'll be doing most of the work while my kid is asleep upstairs.  How bad are the fumes?  Would a fan in a small basement window be a sufficient vent?  Will my living room (directly above the potential workshop) reek?  Should I wait, save my pennies and upgrade my garage (which I should add is already too small and cramped)?

cheers

Definitely don't powdercoat indoors! Who knows what sorts of toxins are in the stuff.

To bake my parts I just use a propane powered 3 element "Mr. Heater" that fits on top of my BBQ propane tank. I do this in the garage with the doors open for ventilation. With this setup I can do parts of any size, the key is to just move the heater or part around as the powder flows and bakes in different places.
FYI there is a pretty good powdercoating forum over at caswellplating.com

while i agree about having toxins in the house, powder coating is relatively safe stuff until you actually burn it. before setting up our system, i researched it a little bit as we share the building with bands who practice there. much safer and way less toxic than paint.

[roadkill savior]

Eastwood does sell a single stage chrome, no clear needed. I've used it in my Sears gun with my craigslist oven in the garage.

[Terry in Australia]

Oooer, that looks nice!

[BobbyR]

I saw a hi temp powder at Caswell. My pipes could use some help. Anyone have any experience with high temp coatings?

[flankspeed]

while i agree about having toxins in the house, powder coating is relatively safe stuff until you actually burn it. before setting up our system, i researched it a little bit as we share the building with bands who practice there. much safer and way less toxic than paint.
[/quote]

I've gotten mixed input as to how bad fumes are.  I think the only way to really know is to setup my old toaster oven in my garage and do it a couple of times out there.  There are alot of things I'd do at my practice space/shows that I don't want to bring home.  I did lots of work on my triumph in my basement but never used toxic solvents, and that is the line of thinking I want to continue with.

Cheers

[paulages]

while i agree about having toxins in the house, powder coating is relatively safe stuff until you actually burn it. before setting up our system, i researched it a little bit as we share the building with bands who practice there. much safer and way less toxic than paint.

I've gotten mixed input as to how bad fumes are.  I think the only way to really know is to setup my old toaster oven in my garage and do it a couple of times out there.  There are alot of things I'd do at my practice space/shows that I don't want to bring home.  I did lots of work on my triumph in my basement but never used toxic solvents, and that is the line of thinking I want to continue with.

Cheers
[/quote]

i don't like any petroleum distillate products at my home, but my shop could probably be declared a superfund site. 

[dusterdude]

the epa will be visiting you in the morning.

[mgmuellner]

Kids lungs are delicate & expensive.  Much more so than electrical work in the garage.

[Terry in Australia]

Hey Flanky, lean into that weapon and control it mate, and you'll get a much tighter group!

[Jbird]

while i agree about having toxins in the house, powder coating is relatively safe stuff until you actually burn it. before setting up our system, i researched it a little bit as we share the building with bands who practice there. much safer and way less toxic than paint.

I've gotten mixed input as to how bad fumes are.  I think the only way to really know is to setup my old toaster oven in my garage and do it a couple of times out there.  There are alot of things I'd do at my practice space/shows that I don't want to bring home.  I did lots of work on my triumph in my basement but never used toxic solvents, and that is the line of thinking I want to continue with.

Cheers
[/quote]

The "overspray" powdered dust is way worse than the fumes generated during the curing process. I built my oven using the guts and electronics out of my moms old kitchen oven. I figure it cost me about $300.00 for the sheet metal, insulation and the 670 rivets I popped in by hand. On a cold day it takes about 45 minutesto get up to curing temp. I made it 30L"x36W"x 30"high inside dimensions. If it will fit inside, I can lift it, it conducts electricity and it won't melt at 400*F I can powdercoat it. I collect the overspray when I'm doing a customers part then use the various oversprays to mix up my own custom powders. My 68 Chevy PU is just one victim.  Jbird

[Terry in Australia]

Now that's cool, I wouldn't mind an oven that size in my garage! Well done! 

[Jbird]

Thanks Terry, as I dissassemble my K6 I clean the parts, glass bead them then powdercoat them. I'm slowly growing shelves of shiny little parts, ready for assembly. On the K6 I'm using virgin powder so it won't be "sparkley" like my truck engine. I still mix powders to create custom colors but I keep the colors consistant. The colors on the truck engine are progressions from adding overspray dust from various "real" powdercoating jobs to the junk pots after sweeping up the mess. When my shiny shelves warrant I'll post a pic for everyone to envy.   Jbird

[Terry in Australia]

That's great JB, I'm really interested in building an oven like that over winter, what did you use for insulation between the inner and outer shell? I was thinking of fibreglass insulating "bats" but I'm not sure if they'd stand up to the heat? Can you post a couple more pics of your oven mate? Cheers, Terry.

[Jbird]

I found some high temp insulation at Mcmaster-Carr. I think it's good up to 2000*F. It's 3" thick. I built the inner box first then built the outer box bottom with supports to hold the inner box a tad less than 3" above it. The rest of the outer box I built to just lightly compress the insulation. The door seal is really important to minimize heat loss. I got some high temp rope seal stuff from Mcmaster-Carrand fit it so it just lightly compresses when the door is closed. The door window doesn't work anymore, ambient powder dust has clouded it up pretty good. I need to modify the door to hinge from the side instead of the bottom to make loading dust coated parts and unloading 400* coated pieces easier. If you decide to rivet yours beg, borrow or steal a pneumatic rivet gun.   Jbird

[Terry in Australia]

Hey thanks JB, that's excellent! Cheers, Terry.

[flankspeed]

Hey Flanky, lean into that weapon and control it mate, and you'll get a much tighter group!

First time shooting uphill, took a bit getting used to!