Powder Coating

I broke down and bought a powder coating kit from Eastwood for 200 bucks. It came with a choice of 4 sample colors and a couple of spare bottles and a can of cleaning solution.

Wow...I dont think Ill ever use paint again. If you were ever thinking about buying one, it works as advertized.

I used a toaster oven (till I find a full size oven)to do some bits and pieces on my BDA project. The end result is simply grand.

Leo

Leo,

Might be kinda hard to get those chassis parts in that toaster oven.

Dougie,

I actually thought about that...I figure if I cut the back out of the toaster oven and use a small conveyor belt I could spray and bake at the same time. Sort of like a belt drive pizza oven. I just need to get the timing right!

Leo

Chassis in 30 mins or its free.

:)

Not sure if something has been painted or powder-coated? A friend once gave me a good tip: smack it with a ball-peen hammer. (Okay, he was joking.)

How about a pizza oven from a pizza shop going out of business. Might be available at a good discount. Dont know how expensive to run but if you went into business doing it for others??? (I only request a 10% fee for the idea )

I have a Eastwood kit too, but our local powder coater will do every black part on a car for about $300-400, which is just too good of a deal to pass up.

Craigslist is a virtual minefield of free kitchen ovens. Mine will hold up to a 16" wheel.

I have the eastwood gun and kinda love hate it. Bought one of the well reveiwed harbor freight guns and it doesnt work so I plan on exchangine it for a different one. It seems much better built than the eastwood unit.

Once you start powdercoating you start to dismiss spray paint as a fools plaything. powdercoating is faster given equal prep time and no embarrasing thumbprints because you didnt wait the extra 10 minutes to let the paint fully cure.

Tim,

In the mountains of West-by God-Virginia we really dont have a "local" anything.

Im really sort of envious of all the So-Cal guys that can get anything just made up for a reasonable cost.

Leo

What are the advantages of powder coating over spray paint, is it cost? I've heard that powder coating chips easily and is not very UV resistant.

I've always had good results with epoxy and polyurethane paint. Polyurethane paint is especially impact and UV resistant.

Dave

Good question Dave, I was thinking the same thing. I have a powder coater near-by and was going to bring him my suspension parts but then I heard about chipping, and not to do my wheels because coating hides cracks.

I've been in the coatings industry for 20+ years selling both liquid and powder industrial coatings, here's the short answer............kind of.

Both liquid and powder are available in multiple resin types, epoxy, polyurethane, etc. The advantage of liquid is the ease of custom colors, DYI application methods, and it can be applied to all substrates, metal, plastic, glass, etc. Downside, solvents and the VOC's.............. environmentally bad. Liquids also usually require a multi-coat system (primer & finish) to achieve the dry-mils. needed for an acceptable protective finish.

Up to a few years ago powders could only be applied by the professional applicators. They're 100% cured when removed from the oven and usually provide a "thicker" film in a single application. Substrate pre-treatment is critical for proper adhesion, small parts can be difficult to coat and forget most plastics due to the heat required during the curing process.

My advise is the utilize a powdercoater for large runs of chassis and suspension parts. I haven't seen any ASTM testing on Eastwood's powders, but I suspect one of the large grinders produce it for them, so it's quality is probably ok. I like liquids and use 2k products both epoxies and urethanes, usually spraying a lot of small parts.

You'd be surprised at the finish you can achieve with Harbor Freights cheap ($12.99) gravity flow air spray gun and a home compressor, with the right type of coatings. I do most of my spraying in the backyard...............my wife hates it, her flowers are always developing new spots.

Dougie

Dougie,

I have an HVLP that I used to paint my Landy, I wasn't too critical since it is going to get used roughly, so I have the tools. For the Land Rover I just used Valspar tractor paint (International Red) and a hardener. What are the right type of coatings for a frame and suspension?

Is it stuff you can buy "over the counter?"

Thanks!

Yes,

Most professional paint stores will carry an industrial line of products. For frame and suspension components a hi-solids 2k DTM epoxy is the best. The down side to epoxy is it is not uv stable, they fade but for chassis' they're ideal. They are surface tolerant and have outstanding chemical and abrasion resistance.

Find a PPG dealer in your area who handles their industrial product line ( not automotive $$$). PGG Pitt-Guard DTR Epoxy Mastic # 97-144 is a stock black in a nice semi-gloss. You may need to reduce it quite a bit depending on the output strength of your HVLP, it has 85% volume solids. Should be under $100 for a full 2 gallon kit, reduce with MEK.

BTW I've been meaning to post a picture of my 2005 Disco that was totaled when I hit someone who ran a stop sign at 45mph.

Dougie