Chrome Powdercoat pics

[LeeGS550E]

Hi all-
I though I would share some pictures of my first results with chrome powdercoating. I have been goofing around with PC for about a year now, and this is my first try at anything besides basic colors.

This is an aluminum GS700 swingarm that's going on my frankenstein bike:

Is there anyone else here that's doing their own powdercoating? I'd be interested to hear other's experiences with it.

thanks,

Lee

 

[jwhelan65]

Looks really good, I have been considering having some small parts done but was unsure how they would look. Are you going to do the engine covers?

 

[Breeze]

Lee, the swinger turned out real good. Did you use extreme chrome? Did you also put a clear coat over it? If not, ya might want to consider it.

I too do my own powder coating and have for a while now. I ended up starting a powdercoating business and have been doing well with it. Keep up the good work and remember, there is alot of great info on the subject around the net.

Here is some of what i've done lately;

 

[Nessism]

I'd love to try my hand at some PC'ing. Can it be done in an old gas range or must I use an electric range? Garage doesn't have 220 but it has gas.

 

[tkent02]

I'd love to try my hand at some PC'ing. Can it be done in an old gas range or must I use an electric range? Garage doesn't have 220 but it has gas.

You can make yourself a 220 circuit easy enough, add a breaker and wire it up.
Easy DIY thing, just read up a little bit.
Putting circuit in the garage for the welder now.

Just an idea, you might want to have it wired so you can roll the oven outside to do your "cooking", I heard powdercoating puts out some nasty fumes.

 

[jwhelan65]

Lee, the swinger turned out real good. Did you use extreme chrome? Did you also put a clear coat over it? If not, ya might want to consider it.

I too do my own powder coating and have for a while now. I ended up starting a powdercoating business and have been doing well with it. Keep up the good work and remember, there is alot of great info on the subject around the net.

Here is some of what i've done lately;

I love the look of that darker chrome...is that a black chrome or is it the lighting? Have some parts that need done, Ill PM you.

 

[Nessism]

You can make yourself a 220 circuit easy enough, add a breaker and wire it up.
Easy DIY thing, just read up a little bit.
Putting circuit in the garage for the welder now.

Just an idea, you might want to have it wired so you can roll the oven outside to do your "cooking", I heard powdercoating puts out some nasty fumes.

Unfortunately, I'm just renting at the moment...waiting for the housing market to drop a little further here before purchasing...one year from now.

I want a proper home shop so bad...I'm jealous of you guys with the welders, mills, lathes, etc. Had a little South Bend 9" back in my home in Ohio...pre divorce...pre return to overpriced CA. Sorry, I digress. PC is in my future. Oven on wheels sounds like a great idea!

 

[Breeze]

jwhelan65, that is actually Super Mirror Black and the calipers are Lolly Pop Blue...

 

[LeeGS550E]

Lee, the swinger turned out real good. Did you use extreme chrome? Did you also put a clear coat over it? If not, ya might want to consider it.

I too do my own powder coating and have for a while now. I ended up starting a powdercoating business and have been doing well with it. Keep up the good work and remember, there is alot of great info on the subject around the net.

Here is some of what i've done lately;

Breeze,
Wow, you've reached a level far above me. I'm still experimenting with the various powders and techniques. The chrome is a bonded chrome that Columbia Coatings now sells that does not require a clearcoat. I've been avoiding multiple stage coatings, because I have not been able to get a second coat to go on without problems. This chrome is not as nice as the multiple coating types, but it was just as easy as any other single stage powder.

I did my frame and calipers in Super Wet Black. I love that stuff.

Can you post some more pictures of your work? Would you mind telling me what your typical preparation procedure is for an aluminum part?

 

[LeeGS550E]

I'd love to try my hand at some PC'ing. Can it be done in an old gas range or must I use an electric range? Garage doesn't have 220 but it has gas.

Everything I've read says that you can't use a gas oven due to ignition of fumes. You could at least get a small toaster oven and do small parts until you get a 220 circuit. There's a learning curve involved in the prep, so at least that way you'd be ready when you can have a 220 oven.

My oven is on wheels, but I don't find the fumes to be that bad, so I leave it in place.

 

[Guest]

Nice work. I've been scannin craigslist for a free oven. I have a spot for it in my garage with power. I'd like to start doing it myself.

I like the chrome looking stuff. I plan on having my frame done in that color on my project. Should look good with the all black engine and chrome hardware.

 

[tkent02]

Unfortunately, I'm just renting at the moment...waiting for the housing market to drop a little further here before purchasing...one year from now.

I want a proper home shop so bad...I'm jealous of you guys with the welders, mills, lathes, etc. Had a little South Bend 9" back in my home in Ohio...pre divorce...pre return to overpriced CA. Sorry, I digress. PC is in my future. Oven on wheels sounds like a great idea!

Apartment days, I feel for you.
I made an extension cord for my welder, plugs into the dryer outlet.
Might this plan work for your oven?
Use large enough gauge wire for your application and cable length.

It's a Pain in the Ass for me, have to feed in in from the porch through a window into the basement where the dryer is, that's why the new circuit is going in the garage.

 

[Breeze]

Lee, thank you for your kind comments brother. When we started out, we were ridiculed for our rudamentry [sp?] beginnings. Now things have grown beyond my wildest dream to be honest. As for answering your questions, sure, drop me a PM anytime and i'll help if I can without giving away to many secrets:-\\\.

We use Columbia Coatings as well. Our relationship with them gets better all the time.You find that out as well the more you deal with them. We also shop at casewellplating[.]com. Most of my inventory comes from Columbia though.

Don't shy away from the multi coat stuff.They are worth the practice. Don't fret, keep practicing and you'll ge the hang of things soon enough.

Here is a pic of (Columbis coatings) Exteme Chrome with a clear coat. The pic however looks nothing like the finished product. The heal guard shines like crazy..

Afew random pics for you..

Another engine set

We still use our conventional ovens and our toaster oven . Our biggest oven right now is 4x6 and handles alot of the load. Lord willing there will and 8x8 or 8x16 sometime next year. As some of the newer things come out of the oven i'll share the pics with you...

 

[terrylee2u]

Wow.. that extreme chrome is sweet looking as is the black.. would be nice to afford a little of both done... maybe someday

 

[nity11us]

These pieces look like ceramic. Kinda the idea I guess.... Excellent work gentleman. Beautiful.

--al

 

[ALB80-850]

I've done some of my own too. I scored an electric dual oven range for $40. Have a 100 amp service in the garage wired it up and away I went. I don't think I took any pictures, just put the stuff right on the bike. I did the calipers, front master cylinder, oil filter cover and float bowls. All in all I was happy with the results. I was going to do the swing arm, but getting it in the oven would have been a huge PITA. I would like to get a oven large enough to do bike and go-cart frames. What I've done so far I'm calling practice and it gets a little easier each time. I'll be sure to get pictures from the next batch.

Andy

 

[Big T]

Lee, the swinger turned out real good. Did you use extreme chrome? Did you also put a clear coat over it? If not, ya might want to consider it.

I too do my own powder coating and have for a while now. I ended up starting a powdercoating business and have been doing well with it. Keep up the good work and remember, there is alot of great info on the subject around the net.

Here is some of what i've done lately;

Yeah, spread a little knowledge our way so I can tap Lee to do some of my stuff. Your's looks fantastic ,BTW

 

[Big T]

We still use our conventional ovens and our toaster oven . Our biggest oven right now is 4x6 and handles alot of the load. Lord willing there will and 8x8 or 8x16 sometime next year. As some of the newer things come out of the oven i'll share the pics with you...[/QUOTE]

You might want to check out your local restaurant supply house. I'll bet there's a bunch of used pizza ovens and the like available now,

 

[LeeGS550E]

Thanks for more pics, Breeze. Here's my typcial method for an aluminum part - please let me know if I'm any where close to how you do it:

-Strip paint/clearcoat with aircraft stripper
-Degrease & clean with hot water and dish soap
-Hang part and wipe down with Simple Green and a paper towel (rubber gloves are worn from this point forward to keep grease from fingers off part)
-Use a small propane torch to burn off surface of part for fuzzies
-Offgas part at 25 degrees (or so) hotter temp than cure temp, for about 15 minutes usually
-Coat part while still hot so that powder melts as it sticks to the part. This has gotten me the best results so far.

What do you think? Anything I can do different to get rid of the tiny little bubbles and imperfections that still seem to pop up?

 

[LeeGS550E]

Yeah, spread a little knowledge our way so I can tap Lee to do some of my stuff. Your's looks fantastic ,BTW

Give me a little time for more practice, Big T. I don't want to mess up on your parts. Once I get the frankenstein bike done, I should have more bugs worked out. I'm getting better, though.

Here's the swinger mounted back up:

I got some other parts put back on, too.

The chrome ended up being more like a semi-polished aluminum finish. Would still look good on a frame. I was also thinking it would work well for the cafe guys that want to do their fuel tank.