Powder-coating?

[JoshK]

I was wondering if anyone knows what stuff you use to powder-coat aluminum? I am not really worried about the heat issues and am aware of them. What is used?

(I have an air compressor and guns)

[Algar_emi]

I'm wondering the same question

[ashok]

I never checked details but in powder coating the parts to be coated are kept at a high potential and the powder sticks to it by static charge. After that it is baked in an oven when the particles melt (?) and fuse with the metal surface. The metal surface is of course chemically cleaned ( with acid ) before the application of the powder.
Not something you can do easily at home I think.
Cheers.

[Stocker]

There are available home powdercoating kits, but YMMV without the proper cleaning and baking methods...

[cowanrg]

since i will not have the heat issues with my chassis (im using class D amps now), i plan on having them powder coated. anodizing is too pricey to get it done right, and its hard to get a consistent and even finish. plus, its not very durable.

plus, with anodizing, it doesnt cover anything up, so all scratches, milling marks, etc are visible. you need to spend hours brushing and sanding to get it perfect before you can have it anodized.

[jackinnj]

powder coatings -- if you want it in black or gray I can help a lot

when the substrate coated in powder passes through the UV lamps the cross-linking of the polymer takes place -- in essence you create a plastic coating on top of the substrate -- impervious to normal insults like scratching, mild solvents, etc., much less expensively than vinyl, unbelievably strong compared to paints and other coatings.

the UV light in a powder coating assembly line would tan you in a nanosecond -- the equipment is very expensive -- you'd probably look like an M&M.

[chipco3434]

Make friends with your local motorcycle shop... not the Harley dealer, but the guys who do "custom V-twins", choppers 'n stuff. They have resources for powder coating and also polishing.

I have had car parts and boat parts successfully finished in that way. Home powder coating starts at $800-1000 for all the stuff... I am certain it will cost even more when you start using HER oven for baking.

It is an extremely durable finish.

[AndrewT]

Hi,
so far you all seem to be referring to electrostatic spraying to apply the thin coating.

If thickness is not critical then dipping also works.

Preheat the component and dip it into a tank (bucket or tin) of powder and withdraw. Some powder sticks to the hot surface and the heat then soaks into the powder and gradually melts it to form an impervious layer.
A bit of trial and error experimentation on heating time and dipping time will be in order to achieve a consistent finish.

[DoomPixie]

that is how the local motorbike shop to me who specialise in restoring old BSA bikes powdercoat bike frames, they heat them and then dip them, had it done to my bikes frame and the finish wasnt 100% but it definatley was better than before and looked pretty damn cool. i watched them doing it several times, they bake it in the paint oven afterwards for 24hours
Owen

[AndrewT]

Sorry, off topic comment.

Hi Doom,
another BSA friend. Mine's a Spitfire IV.