Powder Coat Oven Project

[kkroger]

I needed a larger powder coat oven and I looked at a lot of Plans and was going to build from Steel Studs and Galvanized Sheet but this fell into my lap.
A Carter Hoffmann 1830 Hot box, basically a purpose built Stainless Steel double wall box with dense fiberglass insulation between the walls.
$75 Cash and Carry...

I ordered Two 3410W Oven Elements from Amazon at $12 Each Shipped and ended up using one at this point we will see how it all works.
$12 Shipped http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DAQDCW/?tag=atomicindus08-20
and a 12x12x6 service box http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UPA10Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20
$23 Shipped

I picked up an Auber Instruments PID with Timer, the SWA 2441 for contactors...
$57 http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=239
6" K type Thermocouple with 6' leads...
$14 http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_3&products_id=27
Power Shutoff Switch
$28 http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_32&products_id=376
$7 Shipping...

from TC Coatings
I got a block
$40 http://www.tccoatings.com/High-Amp-Distribution-Block_p_132.html
a 120v coil 240VAC 40A Contactor
$14 http://www.tccoatings.com/Contactor_p_149.html
Tadpole Seal I got 20'
$47.80 http://www.tccoatings.com/Door-Seal_p_9.html
and High Temp MG wire
$10.40 http://www.tccoatings.com/High-Temperature-Wire_p_11.html
$7 Shipping...

Also from Amazon...
Couple Indicators
One 22mm Green Indicator wired so that it comes on when the contactor engages
$6 Shipped http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HU06MWI/?tag=atomicindus08-20
One 22mm RED Indicator w/alarm
$6 Shipped http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q1CBDJS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Home Depot
8' of SO 10/4 cord
6-50P (welder Plug)
3 Service boxes two Duplex boxes and a Quad with cover plates
Conduit and Fittings...
Probably $40...

So the PID is setup so that when I turn on the mains, the PID powers up then starts to bring the temp up, set to 375F it will rise to 375 in under 20 minutes, then start the timer, run for 15 Minutes cycle, Set off the buzzer and shut down the contactor...

During my first run up the outside of the box didn't get over 80*F

Should be a definite step up from the house oven I had been using for a long time.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

You got a Carter Hoffman 1830 hot cart for... $75??

Those things are hideously expensive and *start* at $4,500 on the low end and go up to over $6K for fully kitted out.

How did you get one at Cash n Carry for $75.00?

I think I would have been tempted to sell it on Craigslist for $3000-4000 and keep the profit!

Nice build list, BTW. I wish I had space for a powder coating oven. Though I DO have a shed that I might be able to put something in. Hmm.

 

[kkroger]

A Friend saw the thing sitting in a field at his inlaws house, it was purchased damaged (several dents one on the door, another on the opposite side in the rear) It was NEW before it wound up in that field, he bought it salvage. Anyway he showed me the thing in a cell phone pic, I asked how much so he asked the reply was "I don't remember what I paid for it but I'll take $75" I said SOLD! Then we Drove out there and loaded it up.
I knocked most of the dents out of it. I saw them online for anywhere from $1400 Used to $3920 New... This one was damaged when new sold at auction for scrap price, sat in a field until Ryan spotted it, then I got it. The casters on it are worth about a hundred alone.
I had to patch the hole in the bottom where the Hot air unit sat.
Complete with a full set of rack slides and 4 racks, no pans or anything, also included a field mouse house.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Vertical ovens like this are real space savers. I'd probably set the max size to that of a bumper. I would love to have one. Maybe later this year.

 

[nine4gmc]

Excellent, I see those at auctions all the time for scrap prices(not working) and will be on the lookout for the next one for sure! Thanks for posting and including info!

 

[ADSR]

Great build and good story too!

 

[kkroger]

Quick Update and added info in OP.
I ran it the other evening (Tuesday) a full run 375 for 20 minutes AFTER it reached Temp.
All of the products inside came out beautiful. BUT it took 40 minutes to reach 375 on one element. So I am going to need to install the second element after all.
My powdercoating BOOTH is interesting as well, not good for very BIG items but works for what I do right now, small 3" widgets, Some Wall Art 20x12" and some 18x12" stuff.
Just takes a bit to warm up, it was about 30 in the garage at that time. Tomorrow I will have heat on in there and will see if that helps any...

 

[ilovevocs]

That thing is awesome. Can you post a few shots of parts and your process.

 

[kkroger]

That thing is awesome. Can you post a few shots of parts and your process.

I don't take a lot of pics of stuff when I am working on it.

I generally cut the parts out with the plasma table, then I clamp them down to a board with toggle clamps and fly over them quickly with a 120 grit flapper on a 4 1/2" grinder (FAST) Knocks off the tiny amount of DROSS that I have.
Flip it and repeat. I do unclamp each end of an item to get the area under the toggle clamp tip.

Then I hang them and spray them down with Brake Cleaner...
Then I wait for them to flash off and I prepare the gun... and Powder.
I use Prismatic Powders mostly but I have some of the HF stuff too, it was CHEAP at $3.99/# what do you want?

Anyway if you apply it properly it comes out OK but they are Epoxy powders so won't "Weather" as well but are quite durable. Most of what I use from Prismatic is Polyesters and some Urethanes... I like the way the Prismatics apply over the HF stuff.

Occurs to me I don't have any stuff out of this oven.. but what I have done comes out smoother and shinier...

I ran these Friday Evening in about 2 hours total time, from Grinding to spot welding on the hangers, washing with Brake Cleaner, prepping the gun for the color, spraying a color, repairing a couple gluck glucks, hanging each part in the oven after coating. Changing the color, cleaning out the Gun and cup, rinse lather repeat...

These items were done in the old oven. But the "Chrome" look is from Prismatic, the Red from HF and the Black is Gloss Black from Prismatic.