Powder coating

Anyone have any luck with the Harbor Freight powder coating gun? Do you use their powder? What power sources have you tried?

They have it on sale right now and they are having their sidewalk sale this weekend. I am getting ready to resurrect my motorcycle and want to powder coat some of the parts.

Tia, PB.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/have-stove-now-what/38275/page1/

Cliffs: I prefer the results from the eastwood gun but with some mods the HF gun is 70% as good.

Oh, and HF sidewalk/tent sale usually means unlabeled refurbs.

...sidewalk sale this weekend, BTW

Damn. I thought this was going to be about donuts.

I have found that for the amount of powder coating I need and the size of the things I typically want... (wheels, bumpers) it is pretty economical to go to a local shop. I paid $40 to have them flat black a set of race wheels. They did my truck bumper for $75 including blasting off the rust first.

I'll have like a million small parts and bolts to do. It would take forever to have it done locally. Plus it is an excuse to buy another tool.

She Who Must Be Obeyed wants a new toaster oven and I need an excuse to put the old one in my shop. :D

So are all powders created equal? Where is it cheapest?

speaking of HF sidewalk sale - $9.99 angle grinders this weekend locally. Worth the money if it runs more than 5 times.

carry on

I usually buy my powders from powderbuythepound.com and sometimes columbiacoatings.com.

Powder coating is a terrible idea on bolts though. It is so thick the proper wrench will no longer fit and will crack when torque is applied.

The flat black HF powder is very nice looking stuff. It has a very even sheen but it lacks UV protection so it looks chalky after a few weeks in the sun. I did my E30 door handles with it and they looked better than new until they all of the sudden looked very, very bad. HF's yellow is an ugly Caterpillar color not a nice bilstein shade, the red is dandy and I think that is what my calipers are coated with. The white is ....well. It's white. All of their powders go on smooth and flow out well. the flat black just didn't hold up to the sun.

I have a Sears powder coat kit I got from the clearance section. It works surprisingly well. Regarding powder, I have used Harbor Freight and found that it was blotchy? May have been user error in the prep. I have also used "power buy the pound" http://www.powderbuythepound.com/ for silver and black, but was assessed a "handling" fee or something like that so be aware their prices aren't as inexpensive as they initially appear. The powder comes double-bagged and zip-tied shut, so I guess their name is fitting.

The $10 HF grinder makes a fair hammer. However, if you take the head apart and pack it with grease, then take the back end apart and glue the "arm" onto the power switch (near the cord) then as long as you don't get too serious with it, like only run it a minute or so at a time, it is fine. I have one repaired as described and I keep a wire cup wheel in it. I would not want to use it like my Makita, but it does the job I use it for. Just remember to stop when it starts to get hot.

I don't know nothin' 'bout powder coating. Sorry. I do have an oven in my shop though... and there's a side walk sale-a-commin'?....

Yep, sidewalk sale in my neck of the woods. I'm also looking for a front motorcycle wheel stand.

Thanks ditch. I hadn't thought about buildup and then getting a wrench on there. Good thing there's a nice fastener shop near the municipal airport here. Also a Fastenall not far away.