Powder Coating

[ChrisM]

Does anyone have an idea how to find powder coater's? I am looking to have a little Al chassis powder coated in black.

All the places I've called either don't do it or wont do such a small job.


Any suggestions or insight from people with some experience with this?
Also is there any prep work that is required before powder coating, ie. sanding, cleaning, etc?

[Phil_S]

There are DIY powder coat kits available for a small job. I recall seeing them at Sears for very little money, maybe $20. Do you have Sears in Canada? I've never used one. I suppose, like any coating, you want to rough up the surface a bit to improve adhesion, but it may not be necessary.

Here's a possiblity, but it will cost $$$$:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0LCiDaqUc

Maybe you'll find something inexpensive in an auto parts shop.

[labb]

Harbor Freight has pretty cheap power coating equipment if you have them in Canada..Don't forget you have to have a compressor.

[M Fowler]

Steal the neighbor's electric oven and bake the parts after coating.

[Structo]

Doesn't it involve electrostatic attraction for the powder to stick to the chassis, then it has to be baked on at a high temperature, right?

I don't know why a one off would be too much trouble for a small company.
If you do all the prep work and mask things off prior to painting all they have to do is spray and bake.

Perhaps heating a large oven for one small part is the culprit.

It also probably depends where you live, the size of town and the manufacturing that takes place there, whether or not it is available.

My town is about 250K and I'll bet I would have a tough time finding somebody to do it.
Our main industry is big government since I live in the capital.

[jhaas]

If you have a custom/independent type motorcycle shop in your area, you might ask them if they do it, or know of a place. Most of the powdercoating work I've had done has been motorcycle parts, and small jobs are more the norm.

[ChrisM]

My town in 2.5M, with the suburbs making it 4M, so we should have someone.

I spent a bunch of time on the phone today, that got me no where.

I sent out about 7 emails to different places, getting quotes and seeing if they will do it.

All these industrial places are 9-5 weekday only though. Looks like I will have to ship them my chassis that took so long to machine (makes me nervous!!!).

[Noel Grassy]

Chris M,

I had a powder coater by my shop that would let me put FX pedal boxes in with whatever job he was doing the day I asked. That limited my choice of colors but it was freakin' free!
(I had actually contracted their services a few times to paint 24'-0" stock lengths of aluminum for contract glazing. But they didn't treat my FX boxes like it was a hassle.)

The Craftsman system is a good value as well as the one you can buy from Eastwood auto restoration supplier.
You won't need to cure at a "high" temperature per se. It can be done in one of those apartment sized toaster ovens.
Just buy it at a thrift store because you can never put a food product
in it once a brother has baked some PC items.
Hope this helps,

Noel Grassy.

[beakos]

Try contacting a customer car building shop or a hot rod club. Gearheads powder coat lots of parts on the engine and chassis and one is bound to have a contact of some sort.

[glenn.b]

I am certainly not an expert in this! All I know is I have a small Motor cycle / trike shop less than a mile from my house. My point here is I 'd have never guessed they do powder coat ( this place is really small) but they do. I guess I'm saying look outside the box, there are lots of places that do this, that you just my not think about. that, and they don't really advertise it. One of these days when I have the right project I am gonna walk in there and see if they can "shoot it".

[Rich M]

I got the powder coater from Eastwood. Works pretty good once you get the bakeout down. I got a BSIAB2 that looks like creme brulee, or as my friend like to say "brown sound in my pants"!

[Furtz]

Call Joe at Florida Garage. He might be able to help you out. They are in North York. (416) 636-0901