Cheap Powdercoating

[LTUSPE]

For all of you that love the look of powdercoating but hate to spend the money to get every little piece done, I just got a cheap powdercoating gun from Harbor Freight for $100. Then just get your powder from Eastwoodco or some other finish place, and pick up an old electric oven somebody is throwing out and you're good to go. Here's my first two attempts on some old pieces I had laying around. It's really easy to do.

 

[LTUSPE]

I love the look of smoked chrome!!!

 

[rookieupgrade1]

This is sweet!!!

I didn't realize that was out there. Don't know sqat about powder coating. I think I am going to get one. Already have the oven.

 

[Rocket Boy]

can you fit my rims in your oven?

 

[LTUSPE]

I believe most rims would fit in an oven, I'll have to go check tomorrow...

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

looks good man.. when are you going to try powder coating ur valve cover? when you do.. definitely let us see it..

 

[LTUSPE]

Originally posted by RedTurboEclipse
looks good man.. when are you going to try powder coating ur valve cover? when you do.. definitely let us see it..

I'll do one of my extras tomorrow and post pics.

 

[MitsuReaper]

looks good boss.

 

[sjutrettioett]

hey awesome link was wondering if anyone knew where to get one.
killer thanks.

 

[sjutrettioett]

forgot to ask if u sanded the peices down or blasted them or anything first?

 

[LTUSPE]

Originally posted by sjutrettioett
forgot to ask if u sanded the peices down or blasted them or anything first?

naaa, I didn't sand either of these down. Really all you need to do is make sure you've got clean bare metal, so use a pre-painting cleaner and stick the piece in the oven to help evaporate any leftover cleaner. If you want a really smooth surface you may want to sand the item, but the powdercoat really does level most of the surface imperfections. If you've got a piece that's already painted, you'd want to blast it to get down to bare metal. Here are a couple of good links to check out....
www.ColumbiaCoatings.com
www.Eastwoodco.com

hope that helps ya'll out

 

[sjutrettioett]

awesome page that columbia one
thanks alot.

 

[LTUSPE]

Well, after sorting out some major electrial gremlins I finally got time to do a valve cover. I still want to sand and polish the lettering, but this will give you guys some idea of the results you can expect with little/no experience in powdercoating.....and this picture does NO justice to the glossiness of the clearcoat.

 

[Tallen]

damn, good job bro

 

[GSsilentT]

How would you go about powder coating in a different color? (i.e. Black or white) Just curious because I want to coat my rims either white or black, any suggestions on a black car?
<img src="avatar.php?userid=10339&dateline=1047139284"> thanks

 

[LTUSPE]

Originally posted by GSsilentT
How would you go about powder coating in a different color? (i.e. Black or white) Just curious because I want to coat my rims either white or black, any suggestions on a black car?

....just use a different color powder On a black car, I'd probably go with silver, maybe white.........but not black. Silver with a polished lip would look really nice.

 

[eclipserst]

damn that looks good

 

[HyperGSX]

Originally posted by eclipserst
damn that looks good

Agreed

 

[GPS]

Do a wheel and post the pic.

 

[MaNGiNa24]

How much would a compressor for the gun cost?

 

[c0degsx]

where can i get an oven?

 

[LTUSPE]

You only need 10-20psi and it uses very little cfm, so chances are any compressor you have will work. Even an airbrush compressor may work, but I have not tried this YET. Just using an airtank with a regulator is possible from what I've heard, but this too I have not tried. I got my oven off the side of the road, and finding them doesn't seem to be too big of a problem around here. People are always getting new ones and throw their old ones out for the garbage men to pick up. You can even check out the classifides for cheap electric ovens.

 

[95TalonTuner]

what are you using for positive and negative charges?

 

[ECTurboDSM]

Alright, I also have a powder coating system, so let me see if I can answer some of these questions. First off, the powdercoating system actually charges the powder inside of the gun and then you attach the negative clamp that runs from the system to the metal object you are coating. You CANNOT use your oven in your house to cure powdercoating. The fumes and stuff that are emitted during curing do not mix well with your food. You have to get a seperate oven. Remember that most household ovens are 220v, so if you plan on putting this in your garage, plan for a rewire. You can check out actual powdercoating ovens on harbor freight, and they can handle up to an 18 inch wheel and they run on normal 110 current. I actually have the system, but nothing to cure yet, as I am looking into various infrared systems as alternatives to an oven.

 

[devlish]

i found my oven at a local appliance mart garbage area. works fine! (it's even digital!!!) i suggest really cleaning/sanding the items first, and cleaning good as well

in reply to the post above, actually from what i've read there really is not much in the line of harmful fumes. granite, I still would NOT cure with the oven in my kitchen either. My father is a Senior Safety Control Consultant for a large Insurance company, and did a little research for me when i got my system for my garage. he confirmed that I really have nothing to worry about as far as ventilation for harmful fumes when i'm using the PCer and curing items. just thought i'd pass that on. (however, if i'm wrong about this, please post a link to more accurate info. i would appreciate it as well. thank you)

~Kurt

BTW, AWESOME job on the valve cover. i have not used my system very much yet, and haven't time for anything interesting like that. just small stuff for now to test it out and perfect my skills