Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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How difficult is home based powder coating

2006

I would like to buy one of those small powder coating guns, and powder coat small parts that would be too expensive to send to a powder coating shop.

Is it safe to do this in a home kitchen oven?

I am pretty handy with tools and different techniques. How difficult is it to get a professional looking result with small powder coating tools and home appliances?

Alvaro Siman
Restoration - Miami, Florida, USA

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Powder coating is the most environmentally safe metal finishing process since no solvents are involved. If you can get the parts clean enough and pretreated well enough without hazardous chemicals, with experience you should be able to apply powder coating well enough for personal use. But a garage is more sensible than a kitchen. Nothing but food and food containers should go into a home oven.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

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First of two simultaneous responses --

I would suggest dropping by your local thrift store and picking up a small toaster oven, and doing this outside. It will smell funny if you do it in your inside oven.

Marc Banks
Blacksmith - Shawboro, North Carolina
2006

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Do these infrared short wave curing lamps work, or are they a cheap and unreliable alternative to an oven?

Is it possible to build your own infrared lamps by buying ballasts and bulbs at an electrical components store?

Alvaro E. Siman
Restoration - Miami, Florida, USA
2006