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Topic: Anyone here do powdercoating? (long) (Read 1119 times) previous topic - next topic

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Life's pretty messed up around here (my house) lately. I was recently diagnosed with a disease (fibromyalgia) similar in most symptoms to what I thought I had.. (ankylosing spondylitis) and I've been going through a pretty bad flare-up the past month or more.. we're talking like 3+ hours of agony some mornings, even after the pain pills kick in. It's likely that I'll be going through these flare-ups for months on end for the rest of my life. Something I have to take into account in just about anything I do.

Anyway, I'm getting really tired of being poor.. but my last job was brutal on me with the symptoms on top of the work stresses. I'm thinking I'd like to build on my rattle-can experience and take things to a higher level. Reading FordMuscle the other day got me thinking about picking up Eastwood's less expensive powdercoating kit and a garage-sale oven or something along those lines to start getting some experience with it. I may be broke right now, but that kit is something I can tell "the FAM" that it would make a really good birthday-type gift. I don't think I could make a regular income from it for quite some time.. but it's something I could use on my own parts to start with, and maybe do the occasional projects for friends for a few bucks while my experience builds.. and maybe eventually make decent money doing as word gets around.

What I want to know is who here has any experience with powdercoating.. and also more specifically if any of you have experience with the Eastwood kit. Mostly good stuff said about the Eastwood PC stuff on the Eastwood forums, but of course I'd expect that. I'd like to hear what you have to say on the topic. I'll flesh in the topic a bit more once someone responds.. since I don't know if any of you even do it.

As a not completely related note, (because it would be very expensive and a big hassle to do with powdercoating) I do hope to someday learn painting on a semi-professional level.. do whole cars and stuff like that. I see this as one *possible* step on the road to that goal.

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Reply #1 –
Mmkay, looks like I'm flying solo on this one.

Initially I figured I'd just pick up a cheap air tank (I have a small compressor that could fill it, but it's not one suitable for painting) and use that for an air supply for powdercoating small parts.. but now I'm leaning towards trying to get some help ($$$-wise) picking up a decent compressor with a tank. Ideally I'd like to try to get something that could also be used once I move on to conventional painting. (not to mention it would be nice to finally have some air tools of my own and not have to go to a friend's house for that stuff) Guess I still have quite a bit of research in front of me.

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Reply #2 –
Missed your post the first time around Ben... Around my area here in Ohio I know of a couple of guys who have a cheaper PCing kit like the Eastwood kit.  They all have a pretty steady stream of side work with coating parts for friends and the like.  In Florida you should be able to find a decent amount of people who could use that service.
 
Ben I would say get out and visit all the car shows in as big an area as your willing to drive.  Socialize a little bit ( I know ) and inform people that you could powder coat stuff for them.  Buy the kit and get a few examples coated up and take them with you.  I've heard its extremely easy to powder coat stuff. 
 
8birdy8 and I have talked about getting a kit, might just have to to do it, you've re-peaked my intrest.
 
Oh and the compressor thing... no matter how big a tank you have a little compressor is not going to be able to keep up the CFM needs.  But walmart sells a decent sized compressor for cheap that should work.
 
of course your still going to need a regulator to get good results.... but those can be had for less than 50 bucks..  The walmart unit my friend bought has a built in adjustable regulator.
One 88

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Reply #3 –
Well I started researching again today and finally found a SCFM rating on a cheap HVLP gun.. looks like no cheaper (under $200) compressor is going to come close to covering the needs. I might just have to settle for a cheap air tank or cheap compressor for now (I can get a tiny tanked compressor for $59 at Home Depot, I think.. and compressor-less air tanks are only $20-40) and get the good compressor later when I've made a little bit of money from powdercoating.

As for drumming up business for powdercoating, I have a few potential sources already. Planning on talking to my uncle and asking him if he still needs his Harley re-painted. His last paint job came out pretty py and I think powdercoating would fit the bill nicely. If it works well for him, he knows plenty of other bikers he could send my way. Also have a couple other friends who might have need of or know of people who have need of it. Bicycle frames, car parts, etc. Just because I tend to be anti-social doesn't mean I don't have connections. :p

EDIT: As screwed-up as this is going to sound, I don't want to drum up too much business too soon. This fibromyalgia is really kicking my ass lately.. I wake up every day feeling like someone beat my ass in my sleep, and usually wake up feeling like I never slept in the first place whether I spend 6 hours in bed or 11. Even though I've started exercising and I'm losing weight again, I still need to ease into whatever workload I go with. I have to pace myself.

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Reply #4 –
Not quite on topic, but is that fibromyalgia (sp?) anything like RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy)? I ask because I was diagnosed with RSD in my left foot following a broken toe and have been on crutches for 6 months. I've been going to physical therapy for a few weeks now and am scheduled for a nerve block (uuughhh) near the end of July. I finally got sick of not being able to drive myTC (5 sp) so I clamped a 3/8 aluminum plate to the clutch so I can push it with the heel(only part of foot I can put pressure on) This  is NO fun:mad:
TC#1- 2.5T- 10.14@134....9.76@138 with a 50shot
TC#2- Turbo BBF project
TC#3- parts car

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Reply #5 –
http://www.fmaware.org/fminfo/brochure.htm

Quote
What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is an increasingly recognized chronic pain illness characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue and sleep disturbances. The most common sites of pain include the neck, back, shoulders, pelvic girdle and hands, but any body part can be involved. Fibromyalgia patients experience a range of symptoms of varying intensities that wax and wane over time.
 

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Reply #6 –
, I'd hate to have to live with that stuff day to day. My freakin foot is bad enough. Good luck with treatment.
TC#1- 2.5T- 10.14@134....9.76@138 with a 50shot
TC#2- Turbo BBF project
TC#3- parts car

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Reply #7 –
bird,
sorry to hear bout your fibromyalgia my mom has been diagnosed will that along with other things.  just a quick lil thing tho have you been checked for sleep apnea too?  my mom has that. She has a machine that pumps air to help you breathe at night and she says she feels tons better helps her get a better night sleep. just a thought man.  If you got any ? give me a shout .

kyle

Anyone here do powdercoating? (long)

Reply #8 –
I can't afford more tests right now. The doctor bills got a bit annoying for awhile, but I had help paying them. The bone scan I needed was $800.. originally they told us $1600, but knocked half off for paying it right there on the spot. I think a sleep apnea test is somewhat involved, if I remember correctly.. going to some facility and actually sleeping there for the test, I think. I imagine that would also be expensive. I'm still unemployed and uninsured, so tests like that will have to wait.

At least with the painting thing, the kit is relatively cheap to get into.. and I have a couple people here who would be inclined to possibly spend a little to get me going so I can try to make some money with it. I'm sick of being poor.