Powdercoating

[Diversion180beads]

Just wondering what powdercoating is and how I would get set up to do that...thanks.

[mikeswelding]

Greatly simplified, paint is reduced to a powder similar to a plastic that will stick to bare metal when it is sprayed on. It then needs to be baked at at least 350 degrees for ? minutes. The ovens vary in size from about 2 or three cubic feet all the way up to big enough to put a vehicle in. There was a powder coating shop across from my welding shop and I could not believe how dirty and labor-intensive it is. You will need a major air supply for sandblasting, as well as an area to blast in. The initial set-up cost for the shop across from me was about $25,000. Two years later, he closed, because he could not even recover his set-up cost. It would be a good idea to visit one of these operations before commiting to it.

[Diversion180beads]

Powdercoating

Thanks for the info I'm not real big into steel yet but I knew sordof what it was and knew that it worked alot better on steel than just spray paint but thanks again, have to look into it little more...

[nocheepgas]

Diy?

Thanks for the info I'm not real big into steel yet but I knew sordof what it was and knew that it worked alot better on steel than just spray paint but thanks again, have to look into it little more...

If you just want to do small stuff for yourself, you can get by with a small set-up. Eastwood sells powders and a gun for this as well as IR heat lamps. You could probably pick up an old kitchen oven to do things like valve covers or similar sized objects.
One of the secrets to powder coating is that the powder is given a negative (?) charge and the item to be coated a positive (?) charge (It might be the other way around) and the powder is attracted to the metal ensuring complete coverage. If you already have a compressor for sand blasting you can probably get into a small set-up for under $500.00.

[aametalmaster]

I was quoted $26,000.00 just for an oven to do my wrought iron work. Then i started to farm out my work to two different coaters and it was pricey and didn't hold up as good as paint on my outside iron. My train bridges inside look just fine...Bob

[Diversion180beads]

Powdercoating

I got a medium sized air compressor but don't do any sand blasting. Like I said I don't know a whole lot about it but just wondering how to go about it. How do get a charge on the paint and on the stell or whatnot??

[cruizer]

Google Sulzer Metco powder coating, that'll give you a rundown on the process.

I'm a tech for them.

[Diversion180beads]

Powdercoating

Thanks...

[david myers]

Powder coating

I have a cheap set up from HF that cost less than $50 with a coupon and it works great.
I have an old oven in the shop I pre heat the parts after cleaning, then spray them and bake at 400 deg f for 15-20 minutes. I go to my local Powder Coating company and buy powder from then at $10-$20 a pound. It's cheap and it's a lot more versitile than paint. I have a few projects in the welding project site and all have been powder coated in my shop with my little HF set up. So if you are trying to get into it for a small investment for your own projects, I would go this route.

David

[hdwelding]

The Guy I take my stuff to said it cost him 250,000.00 to get his opperation started he does have a 12 x 30 oven though

[Diversion180beads]

Powdercoating

Wow thats alot of $$$$ but thanks for the info..

[aametalmaster]

I talked to a guy last week thats spending a few hundred thousand to get started. The true powder coaters also have a wash tank plus a few more to get the parts prepared for the powder. Also the rework is pretty tough if something was missed or damaged. Just my thoughts...Bob

[Diversion180beads]

Powdercoating

Thanks

[solhauls]

we have a setup here that consist of overhead trolley system built by hand. modified old spray booth. w/ 2 hand guns & 1 hopper. ( you can make your own ) & an oven 46' deep, 17' wide, & 12' tall. We coat pipe & parts for fence & make ornamental aluminum gates * custom fence. bake at 400 for 15 to 35 minutes depending on thickness of material. charge is simular to a magnet The powder just grabs hold. you must keep your hooks clean to ensure good ground.

[ShockHazard]

To save money on small items, I don't bother with powder coating. I use a spray can of cold steel galvanizing compound, followed up by Rust-o-Leum enamal spray paint. The cold steel galvanizing compound works 10 times better than regular primer coat paint.

If the top coat of paint peals or flakes, I just hit it with some more enamal spray paint. I've been finishing trailer tongues this way now for several years and the finish lasts and lasts. No better or worse than powerder coat, but costs a whole lot less.