Home Garage Powder Coaters???

[frogwash]

I have never used or done any powder coating before... I have had items powder coated before though. I am thinking about getting a PC system and have found a couple that would probably do the job. I don't want to buy something and not get satisfactory results. I will be doing small motorcycle parts and maybe parts as large as a rim. Do the $100 range units give professional results? I would like to have a system that will give me very very close to, if not professional results. Will I need to spend more money? Are these systems typically turn-key systems? I have a 13 gallon compressor and do not know if it will keep up .. again these are small parts. Is it pretty tricky to get a nice finish. or does it just take practice? What book do I need to get? If any? And can I just use a typical electric oven to cure my parts? Could I just build a plastic booth in my garage to spray in? I know there are alot of questions.. but Thanks much in advance for any info

Frogwash....

[LeeParsons]

The hobby guns in the $100.00 range do a fine job.

The 13 gallon compressor is plenty to operate the gun, that is what I am using but it does fall a little short on the blasting cabinet.

You can build a booth for little of nothing, I think I have a total of $30.00 and an afternoon invested in mine. I used foil covered insulation board from the home improvement store and some 2X4's.

An electric kitchen oven will work just fine if your parts will fit in it.

Getting a professional finish is just a matter of practice. There books on PC but I haven't read any of them. I did download the powder coating manual that Caswell has and have read some it.

[sdold]

I agree with Lee, the $100 guns work really well. The one you can buy from this site is pretty typical and with it you get some good people to back you up.

The only thing I'd add is that prep work is the part that I've found to be the most hassle, and a blasting cabinet is a real timesaver. Even a small cheap one is way better than trying to clean and strip everything by hand. Two things to check are if your compressor CFM will keep up (if not, you blast, wait, blast, wait, kind of a hassle but still usable). If you do a search here for blasting cabinets, you'll probably find lots of info, but the things I'd look for is one that can handle Aluminum Oxide, which is pretty abrasive but makes a great surface for paint to "bite" into. It eats gun tips pretty fast, so I'm not sure how the non-ceramic-tipped gun that comes with the cheap cabinets would hold up.

steel tips will outlast the cheap ceramic ... seeing how you new . there is alot of info that will help you out on this board. do a search. and you will be able to bring up alot of post with what you may need.. but we all are more than happy to help you out ...

[cruizer]

Here is an example of a garage workshop on a budget. With the help and ideas from the wonderful people here I was able to do this. I have a 21 gallon compressor with a 12 gallon reserve tank and it does somewhat OK with the sandblasting. Everything together prolly cost me about $300. The gun, oven, blast cabinet, and some various little stuff. The wood I used was scrap I had lying around.

http://cruizersworld.com/pc/

[frogwash]

Thanks all.... Most of the parts I will be PC'ing will be from either my lathe or a machined part... So are you saying if I turn something down I should blast it before I coat it? If thats the case... then I definitely need a larger compressor. I have a friend who has a large upright compressor and it has trouble keeping up with his small blasting cabinet!! I suppose if I stick with small parts at 1st, I could use my existing compressor. Does most of the powder stick to the object you are spraying? Or is there alot of overspray.. and can you re-use that powder? Any ideas on a good place to pick up a blasting cabinet? Harbor Freight? Ebay?

Thanks again all.... f

[Popeye]

If it's nice clean machined parts you could probably get by with just hitting it with a scotch brite pad... it should stick fine
IMHO

[Heavykote]

I'm having problems with my sandblast gun NOZZLES! They wear down fast and are hard to find. The right one that is. I did find some industrial sites that have Tungsten and some other kind of metal, I forgot. Let's see they wanted $80 bucks for ONE nozzle. For that price that bastard better last 6 months to a year.
I've taken a hiatus for coating. Mostly due to health issues, but I miss it. I miss my art work...

[pickleboy]

the best nozzles you can get is carbide. they outlast anything out. quite pricey but worth the money as the are harder than all the medias out there. i have used them in place on standard and tungsten and they last a long time on a blaster we have at work and have been using the same one for over a year. this cabinet is used every day 5 days a week.

[Popeye]

I agree, carbide is the only way to go, just be sure to inspected and replace the air jet or a regular basis. Same holds true if you're using ceramic, on the third ceramic tip replacement replace the air jet or the tips won't last long at all.

Heavykote, hope you get better soon!