| Author | Message | ||
     Rocket71 |
I have been looking the home powder coating kits from Eastman and Craftsman. Has anyone used them? I really want to do some small scale stuff in my garage. I got an extra oven so figured I would give it a try. Thanks | ||
| Loose1 |
I have a hot coat system and like it. But don't buy the powder from eastwood. Way over priced. I buy my stuff here. http://www.powderbuythepound.com/ | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Rocket- That Craftsman kit seems to have some pretty good reviews. I have been seriously thinking about that one myself. | ||
| Rocket71 |
Is it difficult to do? or is there anything in particular you have to know or do? I am really thinking about tearing my bike all the way down this winter and powder coating everything. | ||
| Tf1175 |
I think it would be cool to have my own powder coat system too. The one I was looking at for some small parts was http://www.caswellplating.com/powder/powder_coat.h tm I really want to get one because I have some small parts I want to do and my brothers would want in on it too! wonder how hard it is to do this all and how much total you need to spend to get something set up for just small parts like heel guards and such! | ||
| Terrys |
http://www.nicindustries.com/ this is a great place for powders and they also provide color match paints | ||
| Buellsaw |
Check this guy out he's awesome www.grandstandesigns.com | ||
| Snakedriver |
I have the Eastman kit. Its worth the money. You never, ever want to pick up a spray can again! Leo | ||
| Dlwilson |
Here's a detailed review of the Craftsman powder coating system: http://www.jamesriser.com/Machinery/PowderCoating/ Testing.html | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Rocket, Powder coating isnt too terribly difficult but it does have its tricks and limitations. Even coatings over large areas i.e. the frame will take some time to master. All in all powdercoating is just like tradition painting where as all the real time spent is in the prep stages. Media blasting is your best friend to get the best adhesion but you can coat over previously coated surfaces. Once you get good powdercoating makes things look soooo much better than traditional paint. | ||
| Rocket71 |
Any recommendations on a media blaster? I am really looking to try to do this right and as I get some experience try to make just a little money to support the habit. Would wheels be exceptionally hard to do? | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Your absolute best bet is to get a blasting cabinet (even a cheapo from harbor freight). They work the best with the least amount of mess. In some instances what you want to blast wont fit in a cabinet so a gravity feed system is the only way you can go. For media I prefer to use walnut shells but they can get pricey the beads are the next best thing in my opinion. The biggest thing with blasting is it will take a LOT of air. You will need a really good compressor for that (I would recommend something above 15 cfm at 90psi). | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
And BTW wheels arent exceptionally hard to do, but the buell xb front wheels can get a bit hard with the shadow areas. The powder does melt, but typically doesnt melt to the point that it flows thus leading to coverage issues in between the crevases. | ||
| Bads1 |
Powdercoating having a better finish then paint??? I've seen it done top shelf but it will never be as nice as paint as far as finish. | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
FWIW I have to disagree with you there Dana-powdercoating to me looks so much better and gives so much more luster than traditional liquid coating especially if youre talking about painting something with contours or body lines-powdercoating does a lot better job. Not to mention is sooo much more durable, environmentally friendly, and with the technology now the sky is the limit on powder coating designs! Its the coating of the future. | ||
| Xbcrazy |
Thanks Buellsaw...I appreciate the plug. Small scale powder coating can be fun and effective. I don't have any experience using the Craftsman kit. I'm assuming you meant to say the Eastwood kit? If so, I did start out using the Eastwood Pro gun. It will work well for hobby level work. Here is my $.02...powder coating is like any other art or craft or trade. It's usually not too hard or expensive to get your feet wet, but by the time you figure out what you are doing you are probably going to be in way deeper than you first imagined. Money aside, you have to realize that a huge time commitment is needed. Next, not only do you need powder coating equipment, you need caustic chemical strippers and media blast facilities. Getting parts ready to be coated is way, way, way harder than actually coating them. Try stripping a Sunset orange XB12SS wheel and then ask yourself if its really worth it. Feel free to call me with any questions. I'd be happy to share any of my experiences. Pete | ||
| Rocket71 |
Wow. That was a bit disheartening. I am still wanting to give it a try at the hobby level. Been scouring the pawn shops for a compressor and talking to Columbia Coatings about their entry kits I have seen on ebay. | ||
| Odie |
Rocket- I have the Eastwood set up. Perfect for what I do and works amazingly well. Everything Chrisrogers3 stated is true. Everything Xbcrazy stated is true. I spent over a week trying to strip my wheels down to powder them. I used everything I could find from DeKote from Eastwood to aircraft stripper to blasting them. The coating on the centers of the wheels is extremely durable. When I went to powder them the powder did not want to adhere at all to the centers. The lips of the wheels were perfect but no luck on the centers. I was pissed to say the least. Prep is the key when powdering anything.... | ||
| Bads1 |
Chris, You are Soooo limited to what you can do with Powdercoat compared to paint. Yes its more durable but thats it. It will not lay like paint. You can tell a powder job no matter how well done. They do have Candies out there but..... limited again. You have seen my bike. Powder will never lay that flat that smooth. Powder coat will never take the place of paint. In area's yes... like frames and such like that. Thats understandable. Powdercoat prevail's in the durable department. | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Dana, Powder coating as of even a year ago I would TOTALLY agree with you, but in the last year to two powder coating has come light years from what it was. I just got my firebolt done up and the powder coating job was absolutely flawless and looks so much better than the paint job which I paid triple for. There are even methods now to powdercoat multiple colors i.e. I just saw a guy do up an ATV frame in camo. DuPont has the absolute best powder available, check out their catalog sometime, you might just be impressed  | ||
| Fast1075 |
I have three powdercoaters in the city I live in...have used all three...my best comment is collectively they are like a Clint Eastwood movie...the good, the bad and the ugly...amazingly, the best job was done by a shop that builds wholesales iron fencing...they coated one of my dragbike frames...the finish (5 years later) still looks like wet paint...flawless. the others (that specialize in motorcycle work) did less than perfect work, with blotchy, sloppy work, poor masking, and sand in the finish...the last thing I had done was the wheels on my Blast (irridescent red) was horrible...had to send them back TWICE! The bottom line is the prep work and cleanliness are the keys...I am thinking about buying a "kit" to do some of my small stuff...I already have a good media cabinet and am proficient at blasting...but the "big" stuff...like the next set of wheels, is going to a PRO...it ain't cheap if it's wrong!!! and I ain't expensive if it's right!! | ||
| Bads1 |
Chris, I actually have friend that owns Motorsports Powder Coating in Delavan. He does awesome work. Candies, tri-colors,etc,etc. Hes been doing it for along time. I got turned onto him because he also does ceramic coating. I've seen some great stuff but never and I say never will it be like custom paint. If it was it would be used considerably more then it is. I also have a very close friend that is a custom airbrush painter/ Custo painter. He is award winner. He uses powder coat but uses it were powder prevail's. Your paint is a 3 paint process. Powder cannot duplicate what your paint looks like. Thats White with pearl and a blue inlay. Powder won't ever do that and make it look that right. | ||
| Xbcrazy |
Rocket... Sorry if my post was disheartening, I'm not trying to rain on your parade. Just want to make sure you have all the info you need before you jump on in. When you get your equipment, I'll be here to help as you get under way. Pete |
