KIln for Powder Coat oven

[burner1]

This is a kiln I converted for powder coating and other things including heat treating metal. I have used the stink out of it as a powder coating oven. I like the fact that I can hang things. The control is done with an old OOPIC microprocessor an solid state relays.

The control I have has been very useful. I have it programed into climb segment, peak temp segment (for flow out) and hold segment (for cure). I start the kiln to bring it up to temp, get my parts ready. Drop the parts in and re-start the peak segment and it's automated form there. I walk away and pull the parts out when done.

I have done at least a 100 items so far. Rebuilt an old Chrysler 230 in a fork truck and threw everything in I could imagine. Even did high temp headers on a V6 in an MGB. Working on parts for a Ford 8N restoration now. Nice to have the ability to take the temps up higher for ceramic coatings where ovens can't go.

[burner1]

[Jon]

Thanks -- added!

Kiln for Powder Coat Oven by burner1

tags: powder coating

[burner1]

Current crop of parts for the mowing tractor I am rebuilding. It is nice to be able to de-grease, blast, spray with powder drop in kiln, hit go and let cool:

[GaryRoushkolb]

great idea, I'll look for one at a garage sale. I'm currently using an old grocery store oven and it works well but is strictly manual.
Have you tried preheating parts? It helps the coating stick better and on large parts it assures good curing.

[burner1]

The only time I tried was when I had difficulty getting clear to stick to precoated parts. Most of the stuff I do is freshly blasted and sticks well.

I clear coated some coatings which required a clear with no problem. I made some emblems where each individual part was powdercoated then tried clearing over the top but I could not get an even coating on them.

I was thinking of trying to make some Cloisonne parts but I have a learning curve for that.

[nine4gmc]

i see these kilns about every other month at auction, it crossed my mind for powder coating but now i have seen it done, i will snatch one up! btw, there will be two kilns at the East Baton Rouge School Board Auction April 7th, contact me if you need details, just don't bid me up on mine

[burner1]

The ceramic industry is in a decline. It is a labor intensive industry and is shrinking. Programmable kilns are the cat's meow now so non automated kilns are pretty easy to find pretty cheap. Craigslist always has a few.

It is worth checking the inside coils to make sure they all work before you buy...or check the price of the coils or that brand. Some are cheap, some not as cheap. If you know you need to replace a coil at least you can factor it in during purchase.

[Trees]

Burner, I am new to this forum and just signed up. Am very interested in learning more about powder coating. My son purchased a Kiln that looks almost identical to yours and also modified it with thermocouples and microprocessor to regulate the desired temps etc. He had to replace some of the fire bricks, which he did relatively inexpensive since he bought the bricks uncut and then cut to fit, including all grooves etc. I believe it will go to 2200* but don't hold me to that high temp. Any way, we have never done any powder coating but sure would like to add that to our bag of tricks. Any list of reference material for beginners would be appreciated.

Trees

[burner1]

Very interesting Trees; I originally did this to heat treat metal but once I started to powder coat I never got around to heat treating metal.

Which processor did he use? I have mine set to where I can set a peak temp, a peak time, a flow temp and a flow time. It allows me to set the program, drop the part, walk away and come back when done. I can set any combination but I also threw in a short cut for the most routine process.

The powder coating is not hard. I started with stuff from Eastwood. Mainly I sandblast everything clean. Read the manual on the powder gun. Not much to it but you do have to have your pressure low. You need to keep your powder dry, things like that.

I started getting powder from Caswell Plating too. There are many places on the web. I have actually been quite happy with the Harbor Freight Matte black for general bracketry and such.

I use a 55g drum to spray in. Not the best but it is contains about 80% of the powder. I sweep the rest up. I will eventually make a small booth to spray it in. It needs to be in an area with no wind.

The real help for the kiln was the stand inside to hold the parts:



Lets try that photo again.