blkGT500nCA Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) I wanted to share my newest hobby with everybody. Powder coating. A lot of you already know that last year I started making these 3-piece car show display stands. 18x24" top (Dan's sexy SGT) newer 17x11'' top Last year I ended up making more of these than I had planned on, and the 90 mile one way trip to the powder coaters was more than I could handle. I always have the raw aluminum stands built and in stock but it was the powder coating that always held up my orders. Sometimes 2-3 weeks. So I said screw it and leased a small 600 s.f. space and set up shop. I wanted to share a bunch of pictures with my Shelby friends! The first thing I had to figure out was my oven. I looked into buying a professionally built oven but they were super $$$$$. Over the past year I've read quite a lot about powder coating and a good amount of those guys build their ovens themselves. So that was the plan. I asked myself "how big of an oven do I need?" Well, I only really needed a 3'x3'x3' oven, but I didn't want to limit myself to only being able to coat smaller objects. So I built a 4'x5'x7' one. The materials. 20ga, 10ft long metal, drywall studs 2000* mineral wool insulation 20ga sheet metal over 2,000 drilled 1/8 holes and over 2,000 pop rivets The frame The heat! (4) 3800 watt heating elements. Edited March 30, 2011 by blkGT500nCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) The oven! Little trap door on the main door used for checking part temps with an infrared gun it gets nice and toasty in there too The next thing on the list to figure out was the compressed air. I needed air for a sand blasting room, a fresh air supplied hood to wear while blasting, the powder coating gun, and another drop for general shop air. I got an 80 gallon, 2 stage unit from EATON. I ran the whole shop in 1 1/4 galvanize threaded pipe. Next up was a powder application booth. This was an 8'x7'x7' room that had the walls lined with foam board for easy clean up. You can see the back wall has a bunch of washable filters. These filters are the first stage of a four stage filter setup that has a 6,000 cfm fan drawing air behind it. My new Wagner powder coating gun Sucks the powder right out of the bag Edited March 30, 2011 by blkGT500nCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) I've got a bazillion more pictures of the sand blasting room, dust filtration setups, chemical strippers, and so one and so forth, but I'll get to some more exciting stuff. I've been playing with this stuff since January, and I've pretty much coated everything in the house. I've done stuff in the bathroom: racks, toothbrush holders, even the shower curtain hooks! I've done a bunch of stuff in the kitchen too in a very cool color called Bentley Blue. Check it out. Here's the bowl to our Kitchen Aid mixer This color is actually a tinted clear coat, or "Candy" as it's referred to. Candy colors are transparent and look best when applied to polished aluminum or chrome. When applying to steel a chrome powder base coat is required. These candy colors look pretty cool applied to clear glass too because you can still see through them. I even did the dog bowls. Here's a candy red applied over chrome center caps on my friends wheels. I shot his wheels in a 20% gloss black. I did another friends BMW wheels in the same color last week. I also did this million pound bumper on my friends F-250 in a textured black and his tow hooks and assembly bolts in a bright orange. I did some stuff on the front of my truck too Edited March 30, 2011 by blkGT500nCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Well Fabulous Fords Forever is coming up in a few weeks and I finally dug into the Shelby today. First thing up was the coil covers. Stock Stripped I didn't get a picture of them sand blasted, but here's a pic of them coated with their white base coat. Then finally, Ta-da! Gloss black with gloss white fins and lettering! Next up was the door still plates. I did the same two tone process on these. I plan on doing my fuel rails and Moroso tanks in the next few days, along with possibly some other things. I'll keep this thread updated with more pics as they come in. Thanks for looking -Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0201212 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Everything looks great!!! Where in CA are you located? I will be moving out there soon and may have some parts that I want done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormracer Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Wow, Brian looks great! Really impressive oven you built and booth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY500SS Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 This is fantastic stuff..................taking your hobby and turning it into a business. Congrats and all the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormeaston Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Kool!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAD SNAKE Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCD Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 AWESOME!! Nice set set up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIKEBOY Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 O M G Brian.....you are serious about this!? When I first saw the post, I NEVER expected to see the amount of effort and items that you've shown here!! :happy feet: Good for you man!! Damn, and I'm on the wrong coast!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordRocks1 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Ingenuity at it's best right there, man, I wish you were here locally, you'd have my business. Post some more pics of other items when you can, especially car parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Everything looks great!!! Where in CA are you located? I will be moving out there soon and may have some parts that I want done. Thank you! I'm in Redway, CA. I can do free return shipping on any parts that you'd want to send though. Wow, Brian looks great! Really impressive oven you built and booth! Thanks Rich! This is fantastic stuff..................taking your hobby and turning it into a business. Congrats and all the best. Kool!! Very nice! AWESOME!! Nice set set up!! Thank you guys! O M G Brian.....you are serious about this!? When I first saw the post, I NEVER expected to see the amount of effort and items that you've shown here!! :happy feet: Good for you man!! Damn, and I'm on the wrong coast!! lol, thanks! If you've got smaller stuff like the coil covers or door stills, I can do free return shipping. Let me know if I can help you out. Ingenuity at it's best right there, man, I wish you were here locally, you'd have my business. Post some more pics of other items when you can, especially car parts. Thank you Sir! I definitely will. Stay tuned for more pics. -Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIKEBOY Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Brian, I will ABSOLUTELY have you do my coil covers. I get moved into my new home, (and thus garage) and get the car out of it's temporary storage in a few weeks. I will pm you then. Thx my man! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mundies Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 I am really impressed. Thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blown Away Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 That's cool Brian. I've been meaning to get ahold of you to redo the poster for the stand with updated pics and all before Knott's, but time has slipped by...lol See you there. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelTownStang Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Impressive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) Brian, I will ABSOLUTELY have you do my coil covers. I get moved into my new home, (and thus garage) and get the car out of it's temporary storage in a few weeks. I will pm you then. Thx my man! Chris Let's do it! I'm excited to do some different colors. I am really impressed. Thanks for sharing Thanks for lookin! That's cool Brian. I've been meaning to get ahold of you to redo the poster for the stand with updated pics and all before Knott's, but time has slipped by...lol See you there. Dan Shoot me an email Dan, there's still time. blkgt500nca@gmail.com Impressive! Thank you! Edited March 31, 2011 by blkGT500nCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08sgt1042 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 WOW....Brian and I thought all this time was just spent playing around...sure looks serious to me. Great stuff. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slabo Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Wow Brian that is impressive! Nice job. Your coatings look top notch! :shades: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Thanks fellas. I did a really nice display stand last night for myself, but it was still 400 degrees when I left my shop last night. I'll get some good pictures today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb67 Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Very nice work, I like your booth setup how long did it take you to build it? Its just a guess you researched the Caswell's forums in the powder coating section reading up on booth construction. I'm hoping to be able to get myself setup to do some powder coating too. Have you had any problems getting a nice finish on parts and how do you setup your booth do you pre warm it or do you just start it from scratch? Again nice work or you booth and parts I'm envious :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Very nice work, I like your booth setup how long did it take you to build it? Its just a guess you researched the Caswell's forums in the powder coating section reading up on booth construction. I'm hoping to be able to get myself setup to do some powder coating too. Have you had any problems getting a nice finish on parts and how do you setup your booth do you pre warm it or do you just start it from scratch? Again nice work or you booth and parts I'm envious :D Thank you. The powder booth itself took about 4-5 days to put together, this was working nights after the day job. It took me about 8 weeks to get everything together, but I'd been researching for over a year. Yes, Caswell's site is one of many I've visited. The oven and the rolling rack that goes in it took the longest to put together. I'm damn near a certified electrician now after wiring everything up. The oven runs 70 amps @ 220volt, and I personally, by myself, ran the four lines of #4 copper through the 1 1/4 conduit. Lots of parts ordering, carpentry, and electrical. I've got an 8x8x8 sand (actually Garnet) blasting room too that's been really easy to use once it was properly set up. That big bumper on that F250 was painted and I blasted that sucker clean in under an hour, both sides. I've had a hobby gun (see cheap) for a couple of years now and have coated small stupid things in the house hold oven, (NOT recommended. lol) but stepping up to the Wagner powder gun has made a WORLD of difference. Heating some intricate parts may be necessary for some guns but with the Wagner, I simply have never had to. (Except for things like glass, because it won't hold a ground.) Just make sure you have a good ground that's separate from your electrical system. That's very important. I drove a 10ft rod right in my booth and use a jumper cable that I attach to the hooks of hanging parts. I usually preheat my oven a little before putting anything in it. It'll get from 70 to 400 degrees in about 16 minutes. Just like anything else, it's practice, practice, practice. My parts look just as good, usually better than the guy 90 miles away that was charging me a fortune, that's for sure. lol But he didn't really care about me and my small time stuff. He was set up to do huge commercial jobs. I was a little fish. Up next is ceramic coating and water transfer printing. Hello faux carbon fiber, meet my interior! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trob_17 Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Hey Brian, Very nice!!! Sounds like your gonna be setup to do almost anything that us compulsive mod nuts want on our car and your in my home state!!! Can't wait to see some of your latest work. Congrats and keep up the great work!!! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 (edited) Hey Brian, Very nice!!! Sounds like your gonna be setup to do almost anything that us compulsive mod nuts want on our car and your in my home state!!! Can't wait to see some of your latest work. Congrats and keep up the great work!!! Tom Thank you. Yes sir, I can do anything that'll fit in my 4x5x7ft oven. Here's some more stuff. Up next were my Mororso coolant tanks. I did them both in a slight textured black w/ a white lip on the intercooler tank. Don't mind the dirty engine bay pic. She's been sitting since November. Here's another shot of the door still plates in the car. Then I did a friend's son's bike in Dormant Purple and Granny Smith Sparkle. Then I did one of my Portable Car Show Display Stands for myself. I've always offered my stands with vinyl stripes going down the center vertical section, but now I can powder the stripes onto the stand. I'm really excited about the outcome. Check out the pics! Here's the stand coated in white and all taped up. Then I even did all of the hardware and rivets! and here it is w/ the car. Ta-da! Let me know if anyone has any questions. Thanks for looking Brian Edited April 2, 2011 by blkGT500nCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIKEBOY Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Thank you. Yes sir, I can do anything that'll fit in my 4x5x7ft oven. Here's some more stuff. Up next were my Mororso coolant tanks. I did them both in a slight textured black w/ a white lip on the intercooler tank. Don't mind the dirty engine bay pic. She's been sitting since November. Here's another shot of the door still plates in the car. Then I did a friend's son's bike in Dormant Purple and Granny Smith Sparkle. Then I did one of my Portable Car Show Display Stands for myself. I've always offered my stands with vinyl stripes going down the center vertical section, but now I can powder the stripes onto the stand. I'm really excited about the outcome. Check out the pics! Here's the stand coated in white and all taped up. Then I even did all of the hardware and rivets! and here it is w/ the car. Ta-da! Let me know if anyone has any questions. Thanks for looking Brian Only one..............................When are you finding time to sleep? I like the way the sill plate looks in that color....but, it does sorta do away with the intention of the billet look. JMHO Great job Brian!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Only one..............................When are you finding time to sleep? I like the way the sill plate looks in that color....but, it does sorta do away with the intention of the billet look. JMHO Great job Brian!! You mean you're not supposed to go to bed at 2am and get up at 7am? I knew I was doing something wrong. lol I know what you mean about the still plates too. I just had to try something with recessed letters and the still plates were it!. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb67 Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Thanks for the information its good to hear first hand and experience working with something. I can understand about praticing alot its good to have your way of doing things with something like this that way you know what to expect and can prepare for the times when you need a plan B. I can also believe that what you are turning out is as good or better than what you had someone else do for you and I know exactly what you mean about being a small fish too. Your new stuff sounds interesting can't wait to see where it leads you to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakebit Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Awesome work Brian! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkGT500nCA Posted April 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Thanks for the information its good to hear first hand and experience working with something. I can understand about praticing alot its good to have your way of doing things with something like this that way you know what to expect and can prepare for the times when you need a plan B. I can also believe that what you are turning out is as good or better than what you had someone else do for you and I know exactly what you mean about being a small fish too. Your new stuff sounds interesting can't wait to see where it leads you to. Shoot me a PM or an email @ blkgt500nca@gmail.com if you've ever got any powder questions. I don't mind helping a fellow enthusiast out. Awesome work Brian! Thanks guys. I appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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