Prep and blasting larger parts or items

[dannydone]

I recently started a powder coating business and mostly have delt in atv and motorcycle parts.

I have a Blue m 4x4x6 oven, a nice sized spray booth ,and Norton gun and can handle most of what is given to me for work.

The problem I have is that someone came to me with some business that involves railings and gates, about 4 ft-6ft long and usually around 4 ft tall. I plan on getting a extension kit for the oven to take on the work but but what can I do to get such large items sand/bead blasted.

What do you guys use to blast motorcycle frame or larger items?

Do you have blast rooms or large sand blasters that you use? or do you just use a portable blaster?

[DALE]

Yup and all of the above. Most of us have something, whatever works for your situation. Do you have floor space for a blast room or cabinet? If not then go portable and do it outside. Certain things I send to a shop near me and rent time in their burn off oven.

[dannydone]

I worked in some floor space for a blast room, I am thinking about making one, anyone have any advice or try to take that on themselves?

[offroadbum]

if your talking about ornamental iron.have them blast it,they usually have the blaster to do it.
I`ve been building it for the last few years and I`ve yet to see
it to come out right(cover with out 2 coats).We send out most of our work(powder wise).But since my boss gave me an oven (6x8x3) I get allot of side work but I only do small amounts and rush jobs.Till I go fulltime at this,it`s hard to work 10 or 12 hours aday then come home and send another 4 or 5 hours powder coating.
Pieces with cast parts I preheat them an hour before I shoot them.Most everything that we do has channel,I usually shoot it upside down then the top side.
What makes it so bad is that full welds are not used or they crack around the casting(hard to weld in the given amount of time),when this stuff is put up out in the weather you can see rust marks after a good rain.Now that I`m coating twice it seems to hold up alittle better.The guy that we send it out to still want do it and his has rust marks
shortly after.But he gives me all his batch work so I keep my mouth shut.But I do take pride in what I do so I`m going to keep doing it my way.
Sorry to be so long winded but I just thought you might need to know what you were getting into.Some people don`t say anything about the rust marks but some do.My boss just goes out and sprays it with a rattle can and calls it fixed

[dannydone]

Reg steel is used for the railings I am doing and have no problems with rust/welds etc.., I have done cast iron etc.. and never had rust, maybe some outgassing, thats it.


Trick is to use a flat satin black powder as the base to sort of seal the metal, then use a second coat with the color requested by the customer and finish with a clear top coat or semi gloss clear.