Paint chipping solution

[darron]

Move to powder coating. You won't regret it. Consider the amount of money that you spend on spray packs when you can get a powder fun for $150


It takes a real lot to chip that! I laser powder coat and even all of the text and any tiny amount of detail in the artwork just stays there perfectly. It's like plastic fused on to the metal. Well, it is.

[vigilante397]

Move to powder coating. You won't regret it. Consider the amount of money that you spend on spray packs when you can get a powder fun for $150


It takes a real lot to chip that! I laser powder coat and even all of the text and any tiny amount of detail in the artwork just stays there perfectly. It's like plastic fused on to the metal. Well, it is.

I haven't been doing this as long as a lot of people on here so I haven't spent quite as much on spray cans, but I have still considered making the solid switch to powder coating. So while we're on the topic:

1) Aside from the gun, I'm assuming I need some sort of...well...powder? What does that cost and how much does it cover per (insert unit here)?

2) Laser etching is another thing I'd love to get into to make my graphics look more professional (not saying much ). How many widgets do I need to sell in order to get into that sort of thing? And furthermore what exactly would I be getting into? This is pretty much what I picture:

[darron]

well, if you're like me, you might bave tried a few primer cans, then have a few base colours lying around, clears etc. some of the expensive stuff is about $40 a can for candies etc here.


powder is pretty cheap! well, if you have access to it. in australia the shipping means it cosys magnitudes more than the product alone but i just get it from the guys who also sell on ebay. hard to estimate how many sprays you get because i change colours pretty often and waste powder, but should get maybe 40 boxes out of a pound of powder at a guess? if you did them all in one go. for about $15 or so? someone step in if i'm out.

or find somsone local to do it. there's a girl near me who used to do my boxes for $1 each (i supply powder) or $2 each if it's her powder. minimum colour setup of $40 (so 40x boxes included).


i only mentioned lasering as an exampe of how strong the poweder is. i use it because i have access to it, but printing and silk-screening is just as nice or nice. here lasering costs $60/hour-ish. So with two passes that might be about $7 / box, depending on the areas of the artwork. Last place I went to it was going to cost about $15 a box so that wasn't very cost-effective, hence I bought a laser.

if you only want a few boxes done then you might be able to leave it at a powder coating place and ask tell them you're not in a rush and next time someone else does a batch of white / whatever to unclude yours also. someone did this for me for a few bucks. most of the stuff they do is larger work like garden fences etc.

[PRR]

> Aside from the gun, I'm assuming I need some sort of...well...powder? .... What does that cost and how much ....

http://www.eastwood.com/paints/hotcoat-powder-coating.html

There may be lower-price sources, or closer sources, but this gives you a good overview of the process tools and supplies used.

Not clearly shown: you need compressed air. They say an air-brush compressor can work with the smallest gun. (But you can find cheap "real" compressors at lower price than their fine airbrush compressor.) You also need a toaster-oven which will smell like baked plastic afterward. So total from-scratch costs are not small, near $300.

[vigilante397]

Ah, so while powder coating is an amazing option, it's less of a DIY thing if you live in a small apartment. I know there's a couple places around town that do powder coating and I've been meaning to check them out. I should find out if there's someone that does silkscreening as well 

As fun as it is to do rattle cans and waterslides, I have been looking to get into something more professional.

[darron]

i guess i do make some unfair assumptions. most guys have a compressor in the shed 'down under'. a cheap oilless one for $80 would be good. really doesn't need much. don't try one of those 1/6 hp ones though...

and yeah, not ideal at all if you're living in an apartment - as lots of people here are. but then, you probably shouldn't be using spray paints indoors either if that's the case! so definitely the better option. or maybe that's where the more abstract inspired artwork comes from.

i'd recommend a kitchen. toaster ovens only fit a box or two and you have to be really careful getting it in and out to not touch the edges. next time one of your friends does a renovation or is throwing one away due to bad seals or something grab it. i got two this way. at the price it's the norm now to ditch these devices rather than repair them, unfortunately.

[acehobojoe]

And so, would powdercoating require much prep?

[darron]

And so, would powdercoating require much prep?

No preparation needed as long as the boxes are clean. Ie not corroded or dusty.

[vigilante397]

and yeah, not ideal at all if you're living in an apartment - as lots of people here are. but then, you probably shouldn't be using spray paints indoors either if that's the case!

Currently all of my more toxic work (spraypainting, PCB etching, etc) takes place on my balcony Hopefully I don't lose my deposit with the ferric stains

I have been doing alright with the toaster oven though.

[darron]

and yeah, not ideal at all if you're living in an apartment - as lots of people here are. but then, you probably shouldn't be using spray paints indoors either if that's the case!

Currently all of my more toxic work (spraypainting, PCB etching, etc) takes place on my balcony Hopefully I don't lose my deposit with the ferric stains

I have been doing alright with the toaster oven though.

FC stains can be MEGA nasty. RS components sells a FC stain remover chemical. and has free shipping

[vigilante397]

FC stains can be MEGA nasty. RS components sells a FC stain remover chemical. and has free shipping

They do indeed I had no idea that was possible. The pair of jeans I was wearing when I did my first ferric etch have become my "etching jeans" because my wife and I were both convinced the stains will NEVER come out.

Hang on... I found it when I was looking at the UK version of the site, but when I switched to the US version it's no longer there