Powder Coating Oven

[Bikenstein]

Finally gettin around to buildin my Alabama powder coatin oven. Makin good use of a piece of exercise equipment. I'm enclosing this old power rack with metal roofing. Just the right size for doin bike frames. Think it's gonna work?

[coxy]

i am looking forward to see how this turns out

[Bikenstein]

Got around to workin on the oven today. I mounted the four channel pieces in the corners that will hold the two big side panels. The panels fit fine.
I first used a Dewalt grinder with a cuttin blade on it. Then I got my Metabo out and that made a world of difference in cutting the metal. It was well worth the 50 bucks at the pawn shop.

[Mike Anderson]

Hey Bikenstein,
What part of Alabama do you live in? I have a good friend down there, I am sure he would love to see some of your fine work and talk motorcycles. Let me know.
Later Mike

[Bikenstein]

I live in Hickory Flat. It's between Marcoot and Bacon Level. I would welcome a visit from you friend.

[Mike Anderson]

Not that far from my friend, he lives in Wetumpka. Does that sound familiar?

[Bikenstein]

Yeah, he's about 4 beers southeast of me near Prattville, I believe. Just north of Montgomery.

[Bikenstein]

I hope I can get this thing operational this weekend cause I gotta do a pipe job the next two weeks. Just had an idea if this oven works out, I could modify it to double as a blastin' cabinet. 

[BSOrion]

B-

Will you be insulating at all?  Probably more trouble than it is worth.  Also, what will you use for a heat source?  I'm curious.

O-

[Bikenstein]

An oven this size should heat with maybe 3 kitchen oven elements if well insulated. I'm gonna initially try using a 110,000 btu torpedo heater without insulation, since I already have one. We'll see.

[Bikenstein]

I may not finish this weekend cause I gotta get ready for the job next week. I was gonna just have the side panels removable, hang the frames and shoot em, then just slide the panels in place. But they are too cumbersome to handle alone. I thought about counterbalancing them but I think a trolley system with and end door will work easier. I'll have to scrounge around and see what I have. I know I used to build rolling horse stall doors and still have a bucket of those somewhere. If not I'll have to make a track and cage hanger which might take more time than a counterbalanced hoisting system. The channel corners were drops from when the building was installed. It would have been nice if they were 4' longer so I could slide the side panels up. But I'll just have to work with what I have. So far I have about four hours in this thing.

[reed]

I like the fact when people do there own powder coating,when finished i would like to see a picture of your frame.
Thanks.
Steve.

[Bikenstein]

Thanks Steve. It may be 3 weeks or longer though, depending on if I go to a job in Kentucky after this 2 week outage. My oldest son just came for a suprise visit so the oven may be on hold tomorrow. The thing about powder coating is that it's a lot easier to get professional results if you know the tricks

[OldSwartout]

I think you'll need to insulate it.  That sheet metal will conduct heat away like crazy, plus you'll burn yourself if you touch it. I used regular 3 1/2" fiberglass insulation on mine (smaller at 20 x 20 x 36). I was able to get it to 750 Deg. to set a high temp exhaust coating with one kitchen oven element.  You need to be able to control the temperature and keep it somewhat even throughout the oven. The temp needs to go over 250 Deg but less than 450 Deg for most powder coat.  Too high will burn it.  I used the regular oven controller from the kitchen stove to control the temp, but measured it with a thermocouple that my DVM uses.  You could use one of the newer digital oven/grill thermometers with a long probe lead available in most kitchen supply departments to check temps.

[Bikenstein]

Thanks Karl. With such a small oven, I don't think I'll have any hot spots or cold spots because the hot air will easily circulate throughout the box. Initially I plan on regulating the heat by manually turnin the heater off and on. I'll only have to babysit it for about 20 minutes after it comes up to temp. I plan on maintaining temperature between 325 and 375. It will transfer heat very quick, but I think the heater will more than keep up. And by the time the parts cool off and cure the oven will be cool also. I do plan on insulatin later and that will require an outer skin. If it all works out as planned, I'll install a thermocouple and wire in an ice cube relay to operate the heater.