Link to: Metal Shop Main Page

Powder Coating
Painting steel parts
General Info
Make
Model
Serial	Unknown
Specs
Manual	Manual for the smaller gun
Asylum Info
Location	Metal Shop
Rubric
Training	Tool Classes
Testing	Tool Testing and Training Combined
Restrictions	red

		Eye protection required!

Description

Located in a room on the southern wall of the Metal Shop, between the sand-blasting room and the CNC plasma cutter. This facility is sized to accommodate a range of work from small pieces to bicycle frames. A rolling rack holds larger workpieces in an 8'x8'x8' spray booth and then transfers to a 4'x4'x8' box oven. Smaller pieces are cured in a smaller oven. Two guns are available, and many jars of coatings are present in the shop. The spray booth is vented inside the room after filtering the airflow.

The process applies dry, powdered coatings with a pneumatic gun that includes a high-voltage electrode. As the powder passes by the electrode it becomes electrically charged. The metallic workpiece is grounded and so it attracts the charged particles of the coating. The workpieces are then baked in an electric oven to fuse the coating.

Films made by powder coating are up to ten times more durable than those made with liquid paint. The coatings are fused polyester, polyurethane, or resin, with some including significant metal content. Most resist chemicals and salt exceptionally well, though some require a clear top coat to resist corrosion of embedded metal flakes. When applied with appropriate safety measures, powder coating is safer for the environment and for users than spray paint and far more resilient to chipping or flaking. Powder coating with chrome is the industry standard safer alternative to chrome electro-plating. However, in powder form the coatings pose a significant respiratory risk. Organic fumes are outgassed as the pieces heat cure, posing potential further risk. For these reasons proper tool training and testing is required to use this equipment at Asylum.

Use For

Clean metal parts.

Weldments

Brazed parts

Forgings

Castings

Sheet metal

Steel, Stainless, Galvanized, Aluminum, Titanium, etc.

Advanced Techniques: Hot-flocking glass, ceramic, and other heat resilient non-conductive materials

Do Not Use For

Dirty, rusty, or flaky metal parts.

Parts that can't tolerate heating to 400°F (200°C)

Safety Notes

• Danger of electric shock. Don't touch the gun electrode while the activation button is pressed.

• Don't touch grounded workpieces or racks when operating the coating gun.

• There is A SEVERE RESPERATORY RISK from breathing powdered pigments. Wear a respirator or N-95 or better dust mask.

• Wear goggles. Eyeglasses are not goggles, and will not protect eyes from fine, airborne powder.

• Wear heat-resistant gloves when handling hot parts and oven racks.

• Keep the pressure set to below 10 PSI. Higher pressure will destroy the applicator. 5 -7 PSI is recommended.

• Always run the fan on the spray booth when operating the coating equipment.

• Always stand in the spray booth with the fan on, when working with loose powder such as when changing colors on the applicator, or refilling bottles.

• Sweep up any powder spills or overspray promptly, to avoid tracking powder. Dispose of powder in trash (do not reuse swept powder).

• Airborne powders may combust from a spark. No open flames in the powder coating facilities.

• The room will overheat if the oven is operated for a long time. Take breaks outside of the powder coating room to avoid heatstroke.

• Avoid trip hazards. Keep floor clear of cruft and debris; mind cables and hoses.

• Never use the ovens in the shop for heating food. Never cure powders in an oven that will be used for food. Cure only in a dedicated electric oven, never in a gas oven or open flame.

Tools

Tools in the Powder Coating Facility

Spray Booth	Eastwood Dual-Voltage Gun	HICOLO Fab 660 System	Box Oven

Instructions

Spreadsheet: Current powder inventory

Link to: Texbook on powder coating