Getting better, but not quite right????

[benherr]

I've attached a photos of the latest piece I did and although I'm getting better,(this only the 6th test piece I've done) I still have this snake skin appearance and I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong. I do have 2 small craters, but that's alot better than the first 5 test pieces.

Can anyone tell me why I'm getting this snake skin effect? too much powder, not enough, heating it too long, not long enough, etc.
this is a T-6061 aluminum piece.
I have preheated, cleaned with Acetone and then degreased with Purple Power, then cleaned again after preheat with Acetone and then PC.
Ben

[nuttyman]

if that's a chunk of billet all you need to do is wipe it down & shoot it. you're over doing it. no pre-heating is necessary.

[benherr]

Originally Posted by nuttyman

if that's a chunk of billet all you need to do is wipe it down & shoot it. you're over doing it. no pre-heating is necessary.

Nuttyman,

My first couple of tests I didn't preheat and was getting alot of fish eyes. I will admit I didn't degrease the first couple of test units, only used acetone. It is billet T-6061.

I'm trying.

ben

[benherr]

Originally Posted by nuttyman

if that's a chunk of billet all you need to do is wipe it down & shoot it. you're over doing it. no pre-heating is necessary.

Nuttyman,

Here's my latest PC. I still get these carters as you can see in the photo. Degreased , double cleaned with acetone and even used the LiquidguardPC and still getting these carters. any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong??

Ben

[Popeye]

Could be silicone causing the fish eyes.... waxes and sprays with silicone ruin parts

[benherr]

Originally Posted by Popeye

Could be silicone causing the fish eyes.... waxes and sprays with silicone ruin parts

Popeye,
Find it hard, but not impossible to believe its silicone or wax. I cleaned the part twice with Acetone and once with purple power, which is an industrial strength cleaner/degreaser. Is there something better for cleaning/degreasing available on the market that I can purchase locally??

Ben

[nuttyman]

when I do billet I wipe it down with denatured alcohol, let dry for a minute & shoot it. those craters could be from dust or other airborne contaminants. are you positive your air lines are free of all moisture @ the gun?

[benherr]

Originally Posted by nuttyman

when I do billet I wipe it down with denatured alcohol, let dry for a minute & shoot it. those craters could be from dust or other airborne contaminants. are you positive your air lines are free of all moisture @ the gun?

nuttyman,
I checked the air line yesterday and sprayed on white paper. Saw no water or dirt. I noticed when I degrease the billet with this purple power degreaser I can see what I can best describe as white like water marks in the billet. I air dry the billet and then wipe down with Acetone before I PC. This latest PC was the best one so far, only a few craters.

I'm getting closer, but not there yet.

Ben

[jtagger19]

if that is gloss black
have you considered it might be the powder?
I have received a few bad gloss blacks lately.

[benherr]

Originally Posted by jtagger19

if that is gloss black
have you considered it might be the powder?
I have received a few bad gloss blacks lately.

jtagger,

Thanks for the come back. I don't think its the powder because each time I do a test it gets a little better.

ben