This is one of the most frequent questions I am asked lately. I have seen the kits offered in the catalogues for ~$150 that provides you with some sort of a powder gun, some instructions and then you bake it in your kitchen oven. While I am sure they "work", I would advise against them. Powder isn't that hard to apply, but there are a lot of things you have to think about if you are going to take this on.
#1. Metal Preparation - This is addressed in my powder coating page in more detail, but metal prep is the key to any good finish, especially on something that is going to be ridden out in the elements.
#2. Powder - While you can buy some of the basic colours available from the manufacturer at ~$10 per pound, you won't generally be able to get the really good powders or unique colours, clears or effects available. The manufacturers simply won't sell them to individuals in small quantities. The smallest quantity generally available is a 50 pound box, and that sells for ~$3.00-$10.00 per pound, depending on the material.
#3. Application - While I am sure you could do some small brackets and such large parts are out. Remember even if you get the "thumbs up" to use the kitchen oven, you are going to be severely limited in size that you can coat. It isn't just what you can fit in there, it is what you can suspend in there once it is coated so it doesn't touch anything else!
#4 Curing - This is the area I would be most concerned about. While powders are relatively safe materials, they can, and do, give off noxious fumes in the curing process. They were meant to be used in industrial ovens that have excellent evacuation fumes and odours. A range hood doesn't cut it!
#5 Rejects - You are going to make some. Powder is not fool proof, especially to the uninitiated. How are you going to remove that powder so that it can be recoated? Generally you can't go right over the previous coat. That means strip or blast and start over.
If you are aching to part with some money, and want to be a metal finisher, by all means, go
ahead and try it. But if you are trying to refinish something properly, it is going to take a
lot more than these kits to do so. Try contacting a professional in your area. For a list,
look at the end my powder
coating page .
If you know of any good coaters, please let me know and I will add them to he list. If you
have any comments or questions, feel free to
contact me .
To visit the Author Dave Wright's Home Pages
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