Powdercoat machine at Sears?

[ToddB3]

Hey all!

I just got a sales flyer from Sears yesterday and they have a powder-coat machine for $139! Has anyone used one of these yet? I got a qoute recently for about the same amount to have my frame coated and I thought if this is worth it I would just by the machine myself and do the frame wheels and anything else. Let me know if this is worth it or just a POS.

Thanks
Todd

[Ghostgs1]

Probably would work fine, however powder coating requires a 400 degree oven and that isn't easy to find for a thing like a frame or wheels.

[Evil Hobbit]

Probably would work fine, however powder coating requires a 400 degree oven and that isn't easy to find for a thing like a frame or wheels.

Yep and my wife really gets upset when I want to put motorcycle parts in the dishwasher, just amagine what she do if I put powdercoat in the oven. But seriously, you need a dedicated oven in the garage for this.

[Jethro]

Yeah, I thought of this same thing, Todd. To do the frame or exhaust, you need a big oven. I've seen a few on the side of the road, but nothing that could fit my frame or exhaust. I may still grab a shop oven for those small parts, because the powder coating spray gun is pretty cheap. The paints aren't though.

[ToddB3]

I figured that it couldnt be that easy and I didnt know that you have to bake the powdercoat. Oh well, spray cans it is then

Todd

[FTGRET]

You can use an infared lamp to heat one area of the frame at time. You will need a non contact thermometer to do it though.

[xDUKEx]

visited sears today, gun is 189.99. powder comes in small bags that cover 7 square feet, for 5.99. bake in oven at 400 degrees for 20 min. would be great for small parts. they have 100 or so different colors.

[ToddB3]

Duke,

If your a member of the Craftsman club its $139 for the gun itself. I dont buy much from Sears but my dad talked me into joining the club and they will send out special flyers occasionally with really good deals. My girlfriends dad has an infra-red temp gauge that he uses to tell the temp of his race car tires that I could use and I've got some shop lamps that emit high temps so this may be an option after all. I'll let you guys know how everything turns out.

Thanks
Todd

[Hoomgar]

Todd, get some working junk yard grade ovens that work and make your own. I can't imagine it would be too big of an undertaking for one who is so inclined. If I had the time I would have a diagram for you already.

The only limit is yourself!

[Planecrazy]

If I had the time I would have a diagram for you already.

Mark, you crack me up!!! almost twelve thousand posts in two years and you don't have the time?? [-X :-({|= #-o

...Now get to work on that diagram, Mister!!

Steve 8)

[pntrdave]

I may still grab a shop oven for those small parts, because the powder coating spray gun is pretty cheap. The paints aren't though.

The local Sherwin Williams paint store may be able to get you a 1 lb sample of powder coat in the color of your choice. Free Just tell them your going to be doing some powder coating and you'd like a sample of their product. Take something in with the color you'd like for a sample and they can pick something very close to the color you want.

[Hoomgar]

If I had the time I would have a diagram for you already.

Mark, you crack me up!!! almost twelve thousand posts in two years and you don't have the time?? [-X :-({|= #-o

...Now get to work on that diagram, Mister!!

Steve 8)

There is no balance is there Steve? :? :P

During the "time" that I would "have time" to do that, I am not willing to put "my time" to it as my family needs me then

My inventor days ended long a go when I started trading my time for a paycheck. I am stuck in this rut now I am afraid.

That said, Todd, you could make an oven big enough for a bike frame with ease out of two ovens. You may need to supplement with some sheet metal and insulation and it wouldn't be a looker either but it would bake powder coating with ease and could be made for well under 50 bucks. You'd just need a little current but unless your already close I can't imagine it being an issue.

[pntrdave]

My idea would be to take the heating elements/thermostat controls out of several ovens. I'd build a long box out of sheet metal. Possibly take 2 refrigerators cut the backs out of them and bolt/weld them back together back to back, so that you had a box that was 2 refridgerators wide, with the doors on both sides. Reinforce the whole thing with angle iron, make hooks to hang things from the top. Put one heating element on the bottom and one on each side of the box let the thermostat controls hang in the middle of the box. Make sure the oven is preheated before placing powder coated items inside. If you place the angle iron bracing right you can make removeable cross bars that you can hang all kinds of parts on at different heighths inside your oven. I forgot to mention you need to take all the insulation and the liner out of the fridge.

[Hoomgar]

Now your thinkin Dave

[Cracker]

visited sears today, gun is 189.99. powder comes in small bags that cover 7 square feet, for 5.99. bake in oven at 400 degrees for 20 min. would be great for small parts. they have 100 or so different colors.

The setup is great for small parts. I powder coat all kinds of stuff around the house with my friend's unit.