Need Pointers

[twood]

Hey guys, new on the forum and sort of new at PC...

I have a question for you though, I have started doing a little work on the side for extra money etc. I'm about to do a couple of mountain bike frames for someone and I don't want to screw up. I want to be sure and do it right the first time. I've done quite a bit of little odds and end projects here and there but nothing for anyone else really.

I would like some pointers on how to make this work correctly, normally I have never had any problem with orange peel but lately a few items I've done have orange peeled so I'm consequently a little paranoid going into this project. I don't have the money or room to build an oven so all I have is a large IR Lamp which has worked fairly well for me other than the LONG cure times...

I would appreciate any pointers on the following:

Coats: I'm going to be using some super mirror gloss red on one and super mirror gloss black on the other. Do you think I need more than one coat for durability and if so how should I do the second coat? ie. should I let the first cure completely and shoot coat 2 while warm, or should I let it cure and cool all the way then sand the first coat so the second has something to grab onto?

Baking: All I have is the IR lamp so for now I'm thinking of buying some of that insulation board from Home Depot that has the aluminum coating on one side, building a heat box (primarily just to contain more heat) and aiming the lamp inside the box. Primitive idea I know, but it's all I have right now...sound feasible??

Thanks All!!
Tate

[wamontgomery]

Personally I would put a clear coat over the color. Makes it much more durable and also makes it look GREAT. To do a second coat, I shoot the part hot at about 180-200 degrees.

The whole box idea sounds great. Personally that's what I would do if I had to use a IR lamp.

Sorry, can't help ya with orange peel, I haven't had to deal with it, usually my coatings don't have much orange peel so I don't know how to fix that problem.

[twood]

Cool thanks, I'm wondering if, since the super gloss is SO glossy that the clear coat might actually dull that look though...?

I have the full gloss clear from ********...

What do you think?

Thanks
Tate

[DocMartin]

Do you have a way to measure the part temperature? The cure time of the powder is based on the temperature of the metal. Thicker pieces of metal will take longer to reach that temperature.

Smaller pieces may be easier to cure with your IR lamp, but are you noticing orange peel on thicker parts? There might be sufficient heat the melt the powder, but not enough to fully cure it.

[twood]

Originally Posted by DocMartin

Do you have a way to measure the part temperature? The cure time of the powder is based on the temperature of the metal. Thicker pieces of metal will take longer to reach that temperature.

Smaller pieces may be easier to cure with your IR lamp, but are you noticing orange peel on thicker parts? There might be sufficient heat the melt the powder, but not enough to fully cure it.

Actually it's happening on smaller thin parts?? Maybe they aren't holding heat long enough or something, I don't know, of course I am doing the smaller stuff in the toaster oven at more controlled temps which you would think would help prevent it but it's not...

Anyway, no I didn't have a way to measure temp but I just borrowed an IR temp gun from a friend so I can use it for the frames this weekend.

Thanks