rethinking everything

[outcastzeroone]

So ive been doing powder coating for a couple of years now but i am not sure I am doing things the best I can. I have been reading up on some steps others are taking for preping their parts and will be doing those to make my parts come out better.

I plan on makeing a larger oven then I have now. I dont do very large parts so my new oven will only be about 12"x12"x24". Right now I am useing a Krups computer controled 6 slice toaster oven. Its worked out fiarly well for all my small parts.

I have had some isues with getting the powder to stick to my parts while spraying it, specificly around where the wires that hang the part to my rack are. I've tried useing thin steel wire and also coper wire to hang the parts and still get the same affect. I atach the grounding wire strait to the part to get as good of a conection as i can. I also seem to be blowing the powder off at times with the gun. I have my preasure regulator set to about 20 psi. I am useing the Caswell small 16kvdc gun.

My other question is about the rack i use to hang my parts on. I basicaly hang my parts on a large wire fence peice that is about 4"x18" with 2"x4" opening in the fencing and it hangs horizontally about 2' above a table.

just wondering about what others are doing to get a good stick of their powders before baking. I have not preheated any parts in the past and wondering if that may help. I do about 95% aluminum parts, very very little steel.

Also, I have plans to do a lot of engine parts (valve covers, distributors, etc) and wondering if there are any extra steps I need to take to get oil out of a part. I've head people mention boiling the parts. Do I use normal water for this? can the degreasers work? I do not have a Walmart near me so I can not go there for anything. There is several ACE, an orchard and a new Home Depot near me to get some supplies.

[benherr]

Originally Posted by outcastzeroone

So ive been doing powder coating for a couple of years now but i am not sure I am doing things the best I can. I have been reading up on some steps others are taking for preping their parts and will be doing those to make my parts come out better.

I plan on makeing a larger oven then I have now. I dont do very large parts so my new oven will only be about 12"x12"x24". Right now I am useing a Krups computer controled 6 slice toaster oven. Its worked out fiarly well for all my small parts.

I have had some isues with getting the powder to stick to my parts while spraying it, specificly around where the wires that hang the part to my rack are. I've tried useing thin steel wire and also coper wire to hang the parts and still get the same affect. I atach the grounding wire strait to the part to get as good of a conection as i can. I also seem to be blowing the powder off at times with the gun. I have my preasure regulator set to about 20 psi. I am useing the Caswell small 16kvdc gun.

My other question is about the rack i use to hang my parts on. I basicaly hang my parts on a large wire fence peice that is about 4"x18" with 2"x4" opening in the fencing and it hangs horizontally about 2' above a table.

just wondering about what others are doing to get a good stick of their powders before baking. I have not preheated any parts in the past and wondering if that may help. I do about 95% aluminum parts, very very little steel.

Also, I have plans to do a lot of engine parts (valve covers, distributors, etc) and wondering if there are any extra steps I need to take to get oil out of a part. I've head people mention boiling the parts. Do I use normal water for this? can the degreasers work? I do not have a Walmart near me so I can not go there for anything. There is several ACE, an orchard and a new Home Depot near me to get some supplies.

outcastzeroone,
I'm new to the Powder coating business, but I figured I'd jump in here and tell what I use. I mainly work on billet aluminum so no preheating is required. I started out using Acetone to clean the part, but found that wasn't enough and I was getting carters and some orange peel. I then purchased some purple power which is a cleaner/degreaser. so now I wipe down with acetone, then hit it with purple power then acetone again. I don't have any problems with the powder not sticking. My problem is the craters. I can't quite figure out what else I should be doing to prevent these. If your PC older parts I believe most will tell you to preheat the piece to degas it, but I'm no expert. I'm using the same powder gun from Caswell as I think you have. Hope this helps.

Ben
I got the purple power at the local Advanced Auto store.

[JTW37]

Originally Posted by outcastzeroone

I have had some isues with getting the powder to stick to my parts while spraying it, specificly around where the wires that hang the part to my rack are. I've tried useing thin steel wire and also coper wire to hang the parts and still get the same affect. I atach the grounding wire strait to the part to get as good of a conection as i can. I also seem to be blowing the powder off at times with the gun. I have my preasure regulator set to about 20 psi. I am useing the Caswell small 16kvdc gun.One thing you may be need to do, is lower the air pressure. That could be causing you to blow your powder off the part or not sticking. Play with the air. It seems that each gun picks it own best setting.

My other question is about the rack i use to hang my parts on. I basicaly hang my parts on a large wire fence peice that is about 4"x18" with 2"x4" opening in the fencing and it hangs horizontally about 2' above a table. I don't really see a problem with your fencing, as long as it makes good contact.

just wondering about what others are doing to get a good stick of their powders before baking. I have not preheated any parts in the past and wondering if that may help. I do about 95% aluminum parts, very very little steel. You should not have to Hot Flock to get the powder to stick. I have used it as have others, but it shouldn't be a must.

Also, I have plans to do a lot of engine parts (valve covers, distributors, etc) and wondering if there are any extra steps I need to take to get oil out of a part. I've head people mention boiling the parts. Do I use normal water for this? can the degreasers work? I do not have a Walmart near me so I can not go there for anything. There is several ACE, an orchard and a new Home Depot near me to get some supplies. Can't say I've heard of anyone boiling their parts. But it is essential to get it degreased/cleaned as well as you can. Purple powder, Simple Green, Brake Parts cleaner. I've seen many different things used to clean with. Just make sure it is NOT petroleum based. Just before coating, just lightly run a propane torch over it to burn off fuzzies or dust.

Hope I've helped you some.
JT

[outcastzeroone]

thanks both of you guys. I will try to track down the degreasers. I know my local Orchard has Simple green and I will also see about getting a new tank for my propane torch to burn off the fuz. Have you had an isues with unburnt torch fuel or burn off sticking to the part? Most of what I do is aluminum plate or sheet.