Powdercoating and wetpaint facilities

[shand]

Hey all,

is anyone powdercoating as well as wetpainting? I'm wondering how the 2 systems work together? Same booth? Same extraction? Any reason not to use the same space for both?

We're currently wet-paint only but I'd like to explore the possibilities of bringing powdercoat in-house. Any tips or suggestions, I'm all ears.

Cheers

Steven

[Curt Goodrich]

I've done a little powder coating in my paint booth. My experience is that powder leaves a lot of overspray that quickly clogs the filters. The powder tends to stick to lots of things in the booth. My concern is that powder will come loose while shooting wet paint and stick to the frame. Likely on the final clear. Ugh. So when I have done powder I spend a bunch of time cleaning the booth before switching to wet paint.

[Will Neide]

I'd be cautious of powdercoating in a paint booth. Seems like you'd want to wipe the entire booth down before paint. That powder has a tendency to get on everything.

[Rody]

Steven,

I work with both mediums and would strongly suggest that you have separate facilities for the two distinctive processes. The equipment required to do QUALITY work is very different between the two; filtration with round vibratory capabilities saves a lot of clean up, a dedicated energized rack that only activates with the applicator trigger depressed provides more even static adhesion, vibratory feeds with dried compressed air, and a true oven with timer and temperature capabilities is key.

To try to do it by combining space and equipment, as Curt has pointed out, is complex and burdensome.

I shared facilities...now do them in two separate buildings.

Marty at Geekhouse would be an excellent guy to inquire with as he went through the process of setting up a dedicated pc facility; zoning, codes, equipment, etc... fairly recently and could walk you through many of the pitfalls.

[seanile]

thomas callahan of Horse may be willing to help as well