It all really depends on configuration of your part I suppose. I've done this process many times with great success. Make no mistake about it though..... if you pre-heat your part to powder cure temperature and there's a slip-up.....you scrap the part or get busy with the sandblaster. There's some more advanced beds out on the market that have an actual electrostatic "push" to them but I don't think you mean those. If your casting mass is kept low and has no variable thick spots, I'd say you won't have too much of a problem with it. Of course, there will be an obvious learning curve in the beginning before you get a "feel" for what works. This is to be expected though. I also wouldn't worry about using excess powder to the point of it being overly costly either. Keep your dip-times quick and finish your cures as recommended by powder manufacturer and you'll do just fine. (for those curious...this process rivals electrostatic spray by using the excess powder on the part as opposed to the loss you have in the booth or filter of your vacuum as far as powder useage goes).
So all in all...a viable way to coat something, albeit a specific purpose type of application. I don't think you'll have many problems though. But then again.... I don't see why you would have excessive outgassing from small cast parts either unless the quality of the case gives you obvious large holes. Maybe on of the coaters here can do a "test piece" for this gentleman (at a small cost, of course. They have to pay for the powder and oven time) to show him how it would look electrostatically applied versus going out and buying a fluid bed system? Could be a cost effective way to find out if you want to buy a gun or not..... any takers willing to help this gentleman out,hummmmm?......Russ
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