Powder coating

[Mike ArmitageParticipant @mikearmitage]

KHi guys. I have a little sideline from my day job as a gas engineer. I manufacture 20 ton jewellers presses. I make them from 3×1” thick MS platens 8” x 10” with 4x25mm solid uprights. In an effort to improve my product I have made a powder coating set-up. It’s very difficult to manoeuvre the (heavy) assembled press into my adapted domestic oven but I am working on a means of lifting and shifting it. I did manage to brush a little powder off here and there whilst getting it into the oven. But my question is – it’s a big lump of solid steel and it takes ages to get the oven up to 180deg to begin the curing process, would it be possible/ useful/ advantageous to preheat the press up to maybe 50-60deg before applying the powder and then continue to heat up to 180deg or would the powder start to cure immediately, causing me problems with the finish? (This photo was my first press, finished in Hammerite)

Edited By Mike Armitage on 29/10/2019 20:09:44

Edited By Mike Armitage on 29/10/2019 20:13:02

[Mike ArmitageParticipant @mikearmitage]

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

If you are making these as a business I would suggest using fast dry enamel paint either from a spray can or sprayed with an airless sprayer. Good finish at low cost, and if good anti rust fast dry paint is used, corrosion protective as well. Most importantly you aren't paying for fuel or electricity to heat big lumps of metal, and taking valuable time to tend the oven, load and unload parts, complex touch-up of missed spots etc. Just my $0.02 worth.

Alternately if you feel you have to use powdercoat, I'd suggest a website look around your area for firms doing it commercially. They will already have the ovens etc and that is what they do all day, so results will likely be more consistent than home processing. Could be rather low cost too, depending on the firm.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Where abouts are you?

I have a friend who MIGHT be interested in doing the job for you.

Howard

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