Spoke Powdercoat

[ngonerogwu]

I'd like to powdercoat a set of spokes.

Anyone have any tips? Having trouble figuring out how to hang them for spraying and baking.

I could probably drill a ton of holes in a sheet of thin steel and thread them all in. This would allow a single point for the charging lead, as well as protect the threads... But I'm concerned the powder would crack and flake while removing them from that jig.

Wanna replace the nipples anyways because they're in crap shape, so wanna do the spokes while it's all apart instead of powdering all together.

 

[JRK5892]

have to make a jig, drill 40 holes in steel plate, then tap them small piece of masking between the nipple and the end of the jig, watch your mill thickness as you shoot and go to town

 

[ngonerogwu]

Man I was hoping that you'd reply.

Thanks!

 

[o1marc]

Just drill holes in a sheet of thin aluminum or steel the diameter of the nipple.


Or extruded wire screen:



If you want the nipples coated as well thread the nipple on upside down leaving a few threads exposed to be coated and hang like this and shoot the spoke and nipple:




If you are not going to reuse the nipple thread the nipple on correctly leaving a few threads exposed and hang them like this:




Most nipples have a recess before the threads start so you want to coat some of the first threads on the spoke incase any thread shows after lacing and truing. if the nipple is coated you thread it upside down so any bare spot from where it contacts the plate is on the inside of the wheel. You can hang/thread the nipple either way if you are not reusing them.
Drilling and tapping is a whole lot of work for a one time job and if you plan on doing it more often requires different jigs as not all spokes are the same thread size. And then you will also need separate kind of jigs for the nipples.

 

[ngonerogwu]

Wow.

Thanks man. The pics are super helpful.