Homemade powder coat oven?

[Kaizen]

Anybody ever make a homemade powder coat oven out of an electric house range? I want to have it tall enough for a sway bar so 4 feet. only need it maybe half as deep and just as wide as a kitchen stove. Thinking of getting a stove. gut the top off it and just retain the controls needed. turn the element so it goes up the back. sheet metal extending the box up to the height I want and just cap it off with top and a swing door. Think I can get out of the whole thing for under 150 with a used electric range.
Only thing it has to do is maintain 200 degree box temp and be able to hang up to 40 pounds from the ceiling.
Crazy? See any issues?

 

[Cyberbear]

You may wish to add a small circulating fan to make sure the internal temperature is equal throughout your curing oven. A thermometer would be helpful as well to use as a heat control indicator.

 

[PCO6]

Kaizen - Depending on how much you intend to use it you might want to consider something like this (which is not mine). It's basically a galvanized metal heating duct with insulation added to the exterior. The heating element is a hot stove.

 

[dawgee]

know anyone with a pizza oven?

 

[Kaizen]

know anyone with a pizza oven?

you can't ever use an oven for food after powdercoat. but I'd like a pizza oven just because pizza is awesome!

Kaizen - Depending on how much you intend to use it you might want to consider something like this (which is not mine). It's basically a galvanized metal heating duct with insulation added to the exterior. The heating element is a hot stove.

That looks like a good one off solution. I will have several runs so need something a little more.......but I might just see if one of those hot plates and a circulating fan will keep a box at the temp I need. easier then my idea!

You may wish to add a small circulating fan to make sure the internal temperature is equal throughout your curing oven. A thermometer would be helpful as well to use as a heat control indicator.

definitely I have a temp one already from my grill and maybe computer fans. great tips

 

[Toxicscrew]

Check the forums on powder365.com and caswellplating.com for your best information on building a PC oven.

200 deg seems pretty low, you using low temp cure powder? Most powders cure at 385-400.

I built mine from scratch using sheet metal & metal studs.

 

[Frank Dukes]

Check the forums on powder365.com and caswellplating.com for your best information on building a PC oven.

200 deg seems pretty low, you using low temp cure powder? Most powders cure at 385-400.

I built mine from scratch using sheet metal & metal studs.

this. low cure epoxies will cure at lower temp but thats about it.

 

[bartz32tt]

I converted a double-oven into a large single. Gutted out the bottom of the top oven/top of the bottom oven and used extra insulation and sheet metal to join the two. Then I had to make a metal door out of sheet metal and metal studs, all pop-rivetted together. Man that sucked! But the end result is great - I can simply slide in the metal rack to hang parts off of it. Just need to figure out how to wire it so that both burners come on; right now only the bottom one is coming on but it still gets up to temp, just takes a long time.

 

[Kaizen]

Check the forums on powder365.com and caswellplating.com for your best information on building a PC oven.

200 deg seems pretty low, you using low temp cure powder? Most powders cure at 385-400.

I built mine from scratch using sheet metal & metal studs.

Thanks for the links i'll take a look. yes you are right its 350 for the one I was looking at. what did you use for a heat element?

 

[Kaizen]

I converted a double-oven into a large single. Gutted out the bottom of the top oven/top of the bottom oven and used extra insulation and sheet metal to join the two. Then I had to make a metal door out of sheet metal and metal studs, all pop-rivetted together. Man that sucked! But the end result is great - I can simply slide in the metal rack to hang parts off of it. Just need to figure out how to wire it so that both burners come on; right now only the bottom one is coming on but it still gets up to temp, just takes a long time.

overall how do you like the powdercoating? as easy and tough coating as they claim? the rack idea is a good idea I will be using

 

[CudaChick1968]

... as easy and tough coating as they claim? ....

It's very easy to powder coat. It's NOT so easy to do it right.

 

[VDubJoe]

Check out the powdercoat forum at http://www.caswellplating.com/

joe

 

[Toxicscrew]

Thanks for the links i'll take a look. yes you are right its 350 for the one I was looking at. what did you use for a heat element?

I bought all my electrics & elements from Ted from Ted's Fabrication and TC Coatings. He's builds ovens for sale and sells the parts.

Ovens: http://www.tedsfabrication.com/tedsfabs/

Parts: http://www.tccoatings.com/

 

[ForceFed70]

I used an old metal filing cabinet, steel studs, rock wool insulation, and parts robbed from a kitchen oven to build mine. Bought a PID temp controller, a thermocouple, and high temp wire from ebay.

Was easy to build and works perfectly.

If only 4' high, I wouldn't bother with the fan. My oven is 4" high and I haven't noticed any issues with uneven curing/heat even when doing ceramic coatings at 700*.

 

[Kaizen]

Wow thanks guys awesome resources and ideas. definitely going to to some more research to see what is out there.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Maybe try checking out Govdeals in the cafeteria/kitchen section ? Sometime you can find some interesting stuff there.

http://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=1293&acctid=3954

 

[PCO6]

I used an old metal filing cabinet, steel studs, rock wool insulation, and parts robbed from a kitchen oven to build mine. Bought a PID temp controller, a thermocouple, and high temp wire from ebay.

Was easy to build and works perfectly.

If only 4' high, I wouldn't bother with the fan. My oven is 4" high and I haven't noticed any issues with uneven curing/heat even when doing ceramic coatings at 700*.

I'm curious did you add the studs and insulation to the outside of the file cabinet and then skin it (or not) with sheet metal? I would think the original drawer sliders would be good for loading and unloading the parts to be coated.

 

[bartz32tt]

overall how do you like the powdercoating? as easy and tough coating as they claim? the rack idea is a good idea I will be using

I'm still a newbie to the world of powder coating, but I've done tons of research and I'm trying to do everything "right". I got into it because of my project car I'm restoring - lots of parts to coat and didn't like the prices I was quoted by shops in my area.

It wasn't until after I already took the plunge of buying my own gun, powder, and oven that I read how to do it right - it's all in the prep work. To achieve the best bond, you must scuff the surface and the most effective way to do that is by media blasting. So I spent even more money on a media blaster and copied someone's idea of using a bucket with water at the bottom as a "dust collector" to prolong shop vac life. I started media blasting, only to find out my garage outlet wasn't up to snuff, so I had to drop even more money paying an electrician to make it right. I'm lucky I already had a decent air compressor, but I would still benefit from an even better one.

I also built a powder coating "spray booth" to cut down on the mess. I still have lots to learn but it's been rewarding so far, and (maybe) will pay for itself...eventually

 

[Kaizen]

I'm still a newbie to the world of powder coating, but I've done tons of research and I'm trying to do everything "right". I got into it because of my project car I'm restoring - lots of parts to coat and didn't like the prices I was quoted by shops in my area.

It wasn't until after I already took the plunge of buying my own gun, powder, and oven that I read how to do it right - it's all in the prep work. To achieve the best bond, you must scuff the surface and the most effective way to do that is by media blasting. So I spent even more money on a media blaster and copied someone's idea of using a bucket with water at the bottom as a "dust collector" to prolong shop vac life. I started media blasting, only to find out my garage outlet wasn't up to snuff, so I had to drop even more money paying an electrician to make it right. I'm lucky I already had a decent air compressor, but I would still benefit from an even better one.

I also built a powder coating "spray booth" to cut down on the mess. I still have lots to learn but it's been rewarding so far, and (maybe) will pay for itself...eventually

Thanks. Along with this I had planned on getting a media blaster and modifying it to allow longer pieces. I too have a restoration and looking at the prices around after building and buying i'll most likely save a few hundred and have the equipment. Not sure about the spray booth I was thinking of using the oven as the booth if I have a removable heat source. I gotta do more research as its obvious there is a ton out there.

Appreciate all the input

 

[rdn2blazer]

I picked up a 2 yr old electric oven at a yard sale just for PCing, people were moving and were trying to recoup some of their cost on the oven they had bought not long before. I put a good temp gauge inside I can see to better moniter the temp. It has worked flawlessly from day one. My only limitation is size. But I've done countless parts in it with supurb results. Each and every part was degreased if necessary, fully benched to debur and create radiuses on ALL edges.

Then grit blasted in grit blasters that are kept clean and filtered as far as debris, all were pressure pot blaster with shut off timers on them to change the grit at intervals so the grit it still cutting well. Not a bunch of dusty dirty grit but clean Aluminum Oxide or Glass bead or carbide grit. I can't find a single picture of my oven darnit. It's just a basic electric over is all though. Hold 400 well. I have a paint mark on the dial that is the actual correct temp vs the knob mark. It was slightly under temp using the dial mark. I have to go to about 425 to be at a more correct 400 degrees.

 

[CudaChick1968]

... Not sure about the spray booth I was thinking of using the oven as the booth if I have a removable heat source. I gotta do more research as its obvious there is a ton out there.

Appreciate all the input

I can't recommend using your oven as a spray area under any circumstances. It'll attract powder too since it's metal (especially if your grounded piece to be powder coated is hanging from a wire attached overhead to the oven) and all of that overspray will eventually cure ... and overcure ... and then it'll start flaking off onto the other stuff you're trying to coat later.

In my opinion, a dedicated 'spray booth' is necessary only if you're going to reclaim your powder or if you have sensitive shop equipment that shouldn't be subjected to extraordinary dust that can't be taken care of with your blow gun. Not just the spray area but your entire shop needs to stay clean at all times to keep the floaties -- airborne dirt, media dust, pet fur, pollen, debris from other shop activities, etc. -- out of your work if you care about the results. A good gun won't have much overspray either assuming you have a good ground.

I use an old security door hanging horizontally suspended from an overhead HF ceiling hoist. The bars work great to hang stuff from at any height I need, or I can lower it down and use it as a table for my jigs. Between it and the 1500 pound hoist, it'll easily hold anything that my 115 pounds can carry to my oven and I can raise it up to the ceiling when it's not in use. The cast iron door's only drawback was that it's too big to fit in my 7'x4'x3' oven so I had to spray bomb it. (Dammit I hate that LOL!!!) You can kinda see it here holding a dashboard frame.

 

[MScott]

200 deg seems pretty low, you using low temp cure powder? Most powders cure at 385-400.

The OP hasn't bothered to indicate his location in his profile so it's entirely possible he is talking about temperature in Celsius rather Fahrenheit. 200C converts to 496F which would be in the range you are mentioning.

I see a location has been added. Since it's New England i guess the temperature is not Celsius.

 

[Kaizen]

I can't recommend using your oven as a spray area under any circumstances. It'll attract powder too since it's metal (especially if your grounded piece to be powder coated is hanging from a wire attached overhead to the oven) and all of that overspray will eventually cure ... and overcure ... and then it'll start flaking off onto the other stuff you're trying to coat later.

Good point about the flaking. I can't expect anywhere near the quality of your work but its obvious my original plans need to be stepped up several notches to hang on this site. I have a wood garage that mostly acts as my woodshop and my car is in a tent garage so neither are ideal for dust. hence the reason for the dual purpose unit is the space. guess a temporary booth setup or da bomb is my options.

 

[ForceFed70]

I'm curious did you add the studs and insulation to the outside of the file cabinet and then skin it (or not) with sheet metal? I would think the original drawer sliders would be good for loading and unloading the parts to be coated.

You got it. Studded the outside.

I've actually got a build thread here about it. Should have posted it sooner.

My DIY Curing oven - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74527

 

[FriendOfYours]

I've been cooking pizza in the shop powder coat oven for years. Wonder if anything will happen

 

[bartz32tt]

I've been cooking pizza in the shop powder coat oven for years. Wonder if anything will happen

I hope you're joking...

 

[CudaChick1968]

I hope you're joking...

x2 ... mine's big enough to hang a side of beef in but I certainly don't do it.

 

[rdn2blazer]

I've been cooking pizza in the shop powder coat oven for years. Wonder if anything will happen

Was told absolutely DO NOT cook in an oven after powder coating in it. You do not want to end up with some kind of cancer. I'm a rare lung cancer survivor and brain tumor and brain surgery survivor fighting a 2nd brain tumor as I type this, cause from my cancer. Trust me you DO NOT want to go though this hell.

 

[CudaChick1968]

Was told absolutely DO NOT cook in an oven after powder coating in it. You do not want to end up with some kind of cancer. I'm a rare lung cancer survivor and brain tumor and brain surgery survivor fighting a 2nd brain tumor as I type this, cause from my cancer. Trust me you DO NOT want to go though this hell.

I didn't expect to read that this morning rdn -- you have my admiration, and best wishes for a speedy and thorough recovery. << hug >>

 

[rdn2blazer]

I didn't expect to read that this morning rdn -- you have my admiration, and best wishes for a speedy and thorough recovery. << hug >>

Thank you very much. Appreciated. hug right back.

 

[bzinsky]

I don't see why you couldn't build it out of wood and insulate the interior with high heat insulation. Most of us probably have a self cleaning oven that occasionally sees close to 1000 degrees for hours. It's right next to wood kitchen cabinets and the only thermal barrier is the insulation.

 

[PCO6]

You got it. Studded the outside.

I've actually got a build thread here about it. Should have posted it sooner.

My DIY Curing oven - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74527

Thanks for the response and NICE BUILD!

 

[nickleone]

I have seen pictures of a regular house oven with the back cut out an a sheet metal box
added to make a longer area for parts. That extension was insulated also.

Craigs list always has free ovens.

Nick

 

[PCO6]

I've been cooking pizza in the shop powder coat oven for years. Wonder if anything will happen

You haven't posted since this morning. I hope you didn't have pizza for lunch.

 

[FriendOfYours]

Not joking at all. Have made lasagna, pizza, tons of chicken, and all kinds of stuff

After I bake parts i'll leave it on at 550 for an hour just to burn off anything that's in there. I clean it regularly as well. It makes no sense that it would cause any problems

They use isos to make polyester powders so the only thing that could be damaging would be a release of isocyanates, but those aren't going to linger inside of the oven. And once cured they aren't volatile. The only thing that could stay would be isophorone diisocyanate and you could practically eat the stuff if you wanted to