Wondering what y’all do to prepare your artwork for powder coating. (For anyone that does this)I’m getting good at dialing it in with clean cuts and minimal slag. I find using a zircon flap disc, 120 or higher and gently remove any remaining slag, if the back won’t be seen then I can be more aggressive. For the face I’m finding that any slip of the sander will show in the powder coat, meaning the edge when you are trying to get clean corners.
Soaking in vinegar works good to remove millscale.
For amateur quality it works. Would be nice to have a sand blaster and parts tumbler, I suppose those would be the next tool.
I use a 24”x24”x24” cardboard box with a fan and furnace filter as my powder booth. I use a counter top toaster oven. Works well for small stuff.
I don’t currently powder coat. May move into it soon. What’s the lowest air temp you guys apply your powder? Just wondering since garage temps are down this time of year.
I have painted in the 30’s and maybe a little lower. Temps won’t matter much. I have seen a little difference during storms I assume static electricity from storm.
As long as powder is dry I don’t see temp being a issue as long as you don’t freeze up.
Make sure you have good air flow away from open flames. Powder can cause a explosion. A powder coating business blew up a few weeks ago.
Yeah I live in the Midwest. Grain bin dust explosion are a real thing. Grain dust verses the arc from the dryer motor bushes =
Plus, in my younger days I was a Certified Hazmat Technician. We studied up on powder/particulate explosions and fires. I’ll definitely be venting out of the garage and not have the woodstove going.
I will let it soak in vinegar if its new metal to remove mill scale. If its been painted, I use stripoxy 6842. I will then use a palm sander with an 80 grit disc to smooth the metal. Depending on your powder coating gun, you will get edge pull. If the metal is thick, say 1/4 inch or more, I try to round the edges. Then I sandblast, blow off and coat. What type of gun will you be using?
Using an Eastwood dual voltage. I’ve had some good results so far. I like the idea of softing the edges and cleaning the plate in vinegar before cutting.
Anyone have luck with the Eastwood Parts tumbler for smoothing and cleaning pieces? Would tumbling replace sand blasting for small parts?
It depends on what you are removing with blasting. Blasting gives you best surface for paint but it is time consuming. I only blast parts that are to rusty for vinegar. Other wise its vinegar and sometimes a iron phosphate wash.
I think if you want to get serious about tumbling and want a finsh that looks blasted you are going to spend at least $1,000-1500 and that building you own tumbler. Some guys use small concrete mixers and seem to get good results.
I have hear the harbor freight one not last long doing long run times.
I bought on the the small vibratory tumbler from HF and it last about 3 hours
One of the first small boxes I cut with the CNC. Ended up PC them. Didn’t really take much time to prep other than a light sanding. I have a few more projects soaking in vinegar!
Whereas I’ve not cut any plasma projects yet, I’ve powder coated a lot of machined and/or welded stuff.
First, I knock off sharp edges as needed, then media blast, followed with a soak in acetone then after the acetone flashes off, a pre-bake at about 150*c.
Here’s a set of hand formed & welded garden signs I powder coated a while ago.
