Re: 82 Virago 750 Project Cafe
cole.pinnow said:
I've never powder coated anything...so I have a (few) question(s). I know you have to have a clean surface, bare metal, etc., then hook up to the current for the gun and dust the powder on and bake. But when you put it in the oven, are there marks in the powder coat since you have to rest it on the grates? Like doesn't the powder liquefy and stick/create an odd pattern from what it's resting on? Obviously with a large oven you could just hang it in there (frame, or larger parts etc.). I've watched a few YouTube videos but it's always been very small parts hung up in the oven.
I'm no expert or pro...
so what I do is blast the piece and wipe it down with acetone. I have bare stranded 6AWG ground wire that I untwist the individual wires off to use as hangers and a spot to attach the negative lead for the gun. For large pieces, I take one of the baking racks out of the oven and attach the piece and then test fitting it into the oven at the highest slot that I can. Once I am sure it will fit and the door will close, I then heat the oven up to 380 degrees (which is what the powder I have cures at). I put the piece in to bake for 20 minutes to out gas it. This will help burn off anything that could hurt your powder and the finish product. I take it out and let it cool. You can spray it hot, but I like it cool in case I touch something hot and I get burned and end up making a mess. I built what is called a pregnant oven so I could fit the frame and swingarm in. This wasn't perfect, but it served it's purpose. The part usually has to bake for 20 min. Check with the manufacturer, times and temps vary.
For small pieces, I get them set up on the rack and then spray them, transfer the whole rack into the oven and then back out to cool when done. I think yesterday I did 8 pieces at once...
I have been told, but have never tried it, that if you find once you remove the piece and see a light spot or a spot you missed, you can respray it while hot and then throw it back in the oven (though I have been lucky each time). I have also been told that with transparent colors, you spray like a gray or silver before spraying the transparent, so as long as you can get a bare spot to hook the negative to, you can powder over powder.
Biggest thing is making sure things fit and you can transfer the part in and out of the oven without touching anything. Two people is also a good idea. I have found the more I do, the more tips I figure out. You can also start with a toaster oven and small parts, as long as it heats up to 400 degrees.
An LED light is helpful when it comes to looking over the part to see if you missed anything before baking. I have also found that if I used white after I did black or red, I have found the tiniest specks of red or black or both. If you plan on doing lighter and darker colors, clean your gun well and then do some test pieces in the lighter color to make sure that you don't have speckles.
Just remember not to use your house oven...your wife won't like it...
Best thing about this is that once it has cooled, you can put it on. No clear coat, humidity/temp isn't as much of an issue. You could basically take a part off, blast it, pre cook it, powder it/bake it and put it back on in a few hours compared to a day or two waiting for the paint to cure between coats, sags, orange peel, fish eyes, over spray etc etc.
If you are not happy with the result, use aircraft stripper, and start your steps over. Had to do that on my rear drum cover.
I wish I could have powdered the whole bike...lol
There are probably 63 other tips but those are the most I can come up with without boring you to death.
Cheers
