latest powdercoat project

914GT · 03-01-2004, 08:08 AM

Last night I was bored with TV so went out to the garage and powdercoated my V8 engine mount bar. Some of you probably already have done this. Since the bar is way too big to fit in my little oven, and the metal too thick for a heat gun, I rigged up two old quartz-halogen stage lights (but any quartz light will do) on each side. Took about an hour and two beers to do the whole part in satin black. Came out real nice for an amateur. Here are some pics:

Tonyakavw · 03-01-2004, 09:44 AM

Nice! How many watts are those? I'm using a propane heater to cure my parts. I skipped the oven alltogether. So far it seems to work well enough.

-Tony

914GT · 03-01-2004, 10:48 AM

Tony, they're only 300W. Used to be 1000 W lamps in them before they burned out a while back. Still need to find someplace that carries them. That would make it go a lot faster I bet. I've read not to use gas oven with powdercoat, but maybe an open heater's OK. Obviously you're still here to talk about it.

Tonyakavw · 03-01-2004, 02:04 PM

Wow, only 300 watts! I have one of those dual-head shoplights that has two 500 watt halogens on it. I suppose I could use that as a heater

I was concerned about using an open flame with the powder, but I decided to try it based on the experiences of a few others. There's at least one guy over on the 911 board that has used a propane heater (in an enclosed box actually) and another one over at the 914club bbs who has ahd good luck with a propane heater. I think the key to doing it safely is to not allow large clouds of powder to linger, and to make sure you have adequate ventillation for fumes.

If you want to use gas but are afraid of ignition, there are a few 'catalytic heaters' now available. I don't believe that they put out nearly the BTUs of a normal propane heater, but there is apparently no flame. Its a "flameless combustion process," though to me it sounds like an oxymoron.

Are you using the Chicago Electric gun for spraying the powder?

-Tony

914GT · 03-01-2004, 07:14 PM

Tony, I've been using the Chicago Electric gun for about a year now. Got it on sale for $49 and it works fine for these small jobs. I've powdercoated a bunch of parts with is so far - pedal cluster, targa & windshield trim, and my brake calipers. For a cheap tool it's a good investment.

Tonyakavw · 03-02-2004, 09:14 AM

I'm also using the Chicago electric gun. I have had good luck with the one test piece I did, and weather (and work) permitting I'll get more done tonight.

For the windshield trim, did you use a chrome look-alike powder or did you black it out or what? I'm trying to decide what to do with my trim still. Also, did you get powders that are specifically UV resistant? I know that many powders decay with UV exposure.

-Tony

914GT · 03-02-2004, 12:44 PM

Tony, I blacked mine out with satin black powder I ordered from Eastwood. Looks good against the yellow. Nothing special for UV, hopefully the black has enough carbon in it to hold up to sunlight, if not, no big deal. Will always look better than how I bought it off eBay anyway.

AZ914 · 03-02-2004, 01:52 PM

Sweeet!

Amark · 03-02-2004, 03:09 PM

914GT · 03-02-2004, 06:45 PM

Hey there, you two. I'm making progress. Whether it's going to run or not is another question. But maybe mine can join yours on the road real soon. Got the motor mount bar bolted on and the water pump plumbed. I moved the alternator over to the other side as it allows the coolant hoses to route better to the pump. And the alternator will have a shorter wire up to the battery. Should be enough room for an A/C compressor on there someday. Here's another pic.

no substitute · 03-03-2004, 10:55 AM

Does anyone know if the Eastwood gun is worth the extra bucks?