Any interest in Powder Coating ?

[Davio]

I've done small (still bigger than our entire guns) to medium automotive parts for awhile.  I got excellent results with the black crinkle, flat black and clear coats over polished parts.  Those three colors are all I ever needed for automotive.  I use Eastwood powders only, by the way. The Harbor freight or Craftsman colors are nowhere near good enough for me.

With my guitar building (that I only do from about now until it gets hot again), I am wanting to do much much smaller parts.  This new (to me) airgun hobby is also telling me the same thing.  With that in mind, I've just ordered myself a smaller oven for doing much smaller parts.  It will be 120 volt and won't cost as much to cure these smaller parts. 

I'll be doing some powder coating this fall and winter for myself... not every day or even every week, but when I have several parts that I want to do of a color, then I'll do a batch.

I'll be getting some new colors, too.  For sure satin black, gloss black and black chrome.  Some red, some chrome and more of the 2nd stage clear that make the chrome pop, also.

Barrels, tubes, caps, trigger frames, etc. would be no problem.  If it will take an electrostatic charge (groundable metal) and can be heated up to 400 F for about 20-30 minutes for cure, then it can be done.   

Drop me a line if you have anything you want powder coated, let me know what it is (and what color). Then when I'm getting ready to put that hat on for a few days, I'll let you know ahead of time.

[tinker]

You've never tried any of the other powder suppliers. ie Colombia coating, Pendry Powder, Powder 365, Powder by the Pound, etc.  They all have a very large color selection including ceramics & other things.

[Davio]

You've never tried any of the other powder suppliers. ie Colombia coating, Pendry Powder, Powder 365, Powder by the Pound, etc.  They all have a very large color selection including ceramics & other things.

You are incorrect.  I have used some others, but I have settled on Eastwood for MY needs (thus far).  It is a fine product at a reasonable price and gives me good results.  If I ever need something that they don't have, then I will go looking and cross my fingers again.

I also tried some of the cheaper HF (what you see on Ebay for $4.99 or so) and Craftsman once, too and they are not as good.  I nearly had to crucible them to get the lumps out. 

I know there are others, but when I find a good product, I stick to it (no pun intended).  Eastwood is certainly reputable and has been in the game a very long time.  Availability and consistency mean something to me.  There might be a PowdercoatRus, too but I don't have any inclination to even attempt to try them all.

When I was having a car painted custom some 16 years ago, my brother just went on and on about how I was "messing up" if I didn't go with House of Kolors.  Well, let me tell you I went with Dupont base coat / clear coat with a smidge of UV pearl in the clear over the BMW Alpine White base and it is exactly what I wanted.  And that garaged 31 year old completely restored car STILL has that great paint job on it.

In the end: So many brands, so little time.   

[1377x]

 know pic really does not do any justice to paint jobs but do you have any pics of the work you have done?

[Davio]

know pic really does not do any justice to paint jobs but do you have any pics of the work you have done?

Remember I only have done automotive parts done thus far.  BMW wheels are gone (car sold).  I'll post a pic of a radiator shroud top done in crinkle black... and the front bumper lower air dam (a custom piece powder coated in gloss black) later today.  The heat shields (from the old cat location back) are powder coated (a race ported rotary 13B that has exhaust gases that reaches temps of 1,700° -2,000°F at the exhaust manifold at full throttle ), but they are under the car that is only inches off the ground.  I can't even get my arm under there and no lift, you know. The dash frame was powder coated but it is surrounded by (guess what?) dash.

When the new small oven gets here, the first thing I'm gonna do is coat an aluminum Mellon PA black, then I got some reflective chrome to do, and some clear over polished steel.  I gotta strange feelin' you will see all of that when it's done.   

[1377x]

metal is metal shape doesnt matter.if you have pics of the work you have done great, if not then the next time you are doing some work take a couple pics

[chongman]

I would be very interested in getting a grip frame powder coated in a satin black

[Davio]

I would be very interested in getting a grip frame powder coated in a satin black

Me, too.    I've got two that need the casting lines smoothed out and then they, too will get the powder.  As I said below, I'll holler when I'm ready to schedule some batches.

[Fronzdan]

Yeah same here...I'd like a grip frame done in chrome.

[Davio]

Yeah same here...I'd like a grip frame done in chrome.

Great (sick?) minds think alike.  One of mine will be chrome (and the other satin black).

As I said earlier, I only have black crinkle and flat black powders in my possession.  I have satin black and chrome and lower temp clear gloss on order already (as well as the smaller oven). 

When the stuff comes in, I think I'll just go ahead and do a few of my things in those finishes and post pics for you brethren.   I know I'd want to see the goods, too before I sent something off to somebody. 

[crossliner]

Powder coating is the way to go imho..Had the 3 grips done on my carbines by a pro painter using class A paint but now and barely a month I see small chip offs and I don't even rough them up  The trigger guard as well as that extended part below the grip are most susceptible..The rest are fine and perfect though even the sections you install screws on. Best regards.

[1377x]

so in anyone's opinion that knows about painting metals
what makes these grips so hard to paint? what would make them easier to paint? process? plating?

[Davio]

so in anyone's opinion that knows about painting metals
what makes these grips so hard to paint? what would make them easier to paint? process? plating?

What grips are you referring to, Ed?  The standard plastic grips?  Wood grips?  Those can't be powder coated.  Painting is no problem, but durability and loss of detail might be an issue.

[1377x]

What grips are you referring to, Ed?  The standard plastic grips?  Wood grips?  Those can't be powder coated.  Painting is no problem, but durability and loss of detail might be an issue.

i meant grip frame!!!

[Davio]

i meant grip frame!!!

LOL  I should have known.  Sorry.