Has anyone ever Powder-coated their bird?

[PayLoad]

I use powder coating in my regular business, seems like it would be awesome for rockets as well. Anyone ever try it?

 

[Scott_650]

Well, low temp powder coating needs 250-ish F for half an hour or so to cure - what would that do to typical kraft tubing, balsa and polystyrene? Stuff shouldn’t burn at that temperature but would there be some damage from baking like that? Interesting idea and maybe worth looking at - there are some low-buck powder coating setups out there from Eastwood and (of course) Harbor Freight...

If it worked it would certainly take care of wrinkled up rattle can paint disasters - no more rocket herpes!

 

[PayLoad]

Low-heat alternatives exist, with UV finishing - I'm giving it a shot on my next bird "Baby J"

 

[neil_w]

Any powder-coated finish I've ever seen (typically on metal) has had a pretty rough surface finish. Is there a way to make it smooth?

 

[Scott_650]

Low-heat alternatives exist, with UV finishing - I'm giving it a shot on my next bird "Baby J"

Looking forward to the results of this - though for most home powder coaters something that cures at low temperatures so we can use an old oven is a little more practical than UV cured, maybe? What kind of UV source do you need and would it be as cheap/easy to come by as a thrift store toaster oven?

 

[PayLoad]

Any powder-coated finish I've ever seen (typically on metal) has had a pretty rough surface finish. Is there a way to make it smooth?

Powder coating, if done correctly, is like glass

 

[SDramstad]

I use powder coating in my regular business, seems like it would be awesome for rockets as well. Anyone ever try it?

That's a pretty personal question........ What I do with my bird is my business

 

[Scott_650]

Any powder-coated finish I've ever seen (typically on metal) has had a pretty rough surface finish. Is there a way to make it smooth?

I’ve seen home powder coated parts on vintage cars and bikes that were pretty good - not glass-like but more than smooth enough for my five foot esthetics goal for rockets.

 

[jqavins]

I've seen plenty of powder coated items that were very smooth. I've seen some very pebbly powder coated finishes, and they've usually been coated over pebbly cast iron substrates.

 

[afadeev]

I'm giving it a shot on my next bird ...

 

[Donnager]

How do you apply powder coat to a non-conductive material? I was always understanding it was a coating for metals.

I thought the process grounded (or charged) the pieces that were supposed to be coated, and that helped attract the plastic powder before heating.

Of course, I'm no powder coat expert.

 

[DAllen]

How do you apply powder coat to a non-conductive material? I was always understanding it was a coating for metals.

I thought the process grounded (or charged) the pieces that were supposed to be coated, and that helped attract the plastic powder before heating.

Of course, I'm no powder coat expert.

Haha I was just coming to this thread to ask this very question.

Looks like you can powder coat non-conductive materials: https://www.powdercoatguide.com/2012/12/objects-you-can-powder-coat.html#.YFoJUvlKiMo

 

[Steve Shannon]

Every time I fly at Black Rock my rocket gets powder coated.

 

[KenECoyote]

May be an amazing option for fiberglass rockets!

 

[PayLoad]

** VERY Pleased with results ** Coating is noticeably "tougher", smoother than I get with a rattle can. Why, for some reason, did I hope it would fill in the spirals? OH WELL. Thank you King Coatings of Allentown. Did both Electronics test booster & another 29mm x 790mm engine casing.

 

[Nytrunner]

"That is Note my Bord"

** VERY Pleased with results **

What's the added weight compared to regular painting?

 

[cjp]

How do you apply powder coat to a non-conductive material? I was always understanding it was a coating for metals.

I thought the process grounded (or charged) the pieces that were supposed to be coated, and that helped attract the plastic powder before heating.

Of course, I'm no powder coat expert.

I use to powder coat truck steel wheels at the Hayes wheel plant in Akron,they need to be charged for the powder to stick to the rim.Don't know if it will work on paper tubes and then there is the weight issue.A lot of work and rattle cans or air brush is a better choice for me.

 

[JohnCoker]

Very cool idea. Like others, I had no idea you could powder code non-metallic parts.

 

[Kelly]

How thick is the coating? How heavy?

 

[PayLoad]

I should have weighed the parts before and after, but you can tell the coating is thicker but not obtrusive, and much more durable.

 

[cjp]

How thick is the coating? How heavy?

On a steel truck rim it had to be under 30 thousands,it had a nice gloss hard coating.