I realize that commercial powder coating prices involves recouping equipment investment, and that these entrepreneurs aren't working at minimum wage...but ouch!...Expensive!
DIY powder coating is cost effective even after purchasing the coating gun and supplies...but renders my oven, forever after, unusable for cooking food.
Has anyone used, or have knowledge of, the durability of Caswell Plating's DIY 'black oxide' emersion plating process?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Carl...... Black oxide finishing is commonly used for many small machine parts..... It provides a corrosion resistant surface that can take a little extra heat without discoloring....
It will scratch and chip, but is somewhat tougher than paint.... Once a piece starts to corrode, the magic is gone and corrosion proceeds at its normal pace....
As with paint or chroming, surface prep is critical to the looks of the finished product....
It is a cheaper process than either powder coating or chroming normally....
If you can get a rejected part from a plater (they seem to be everywhere), you can run your own tests..... Break out the Yellow Pages / Web...
Hope this helps.
When I remodeled my old TH years ago - I was hard pressed to dispose of the avocato colored dual ovens. Wife prevailed though. You can find free well used ranges on CL - they'd be great for powder coating. Eastwood has hot powder coating kits. I've got some 17"x 8" rims that would just fit in a home oven!
Every garage needs a fridge, why not an oven??
Every garage needs a fridge, why not an oven??
This made me laugh out loud. Too bad I was in my team meeting at the office. 
Ted
got several sets of kitchen cabinets in mine.
No fridge in my garage. When I'm working in my garage and want a beer I just yell "BEER" and my wife rushes downstairs with a cold one.
Note: the above statement may not be totally true. 
No fridge in my garage. When I'm working in my garage and want a beer I just yell "BEER" and my wife rushes downstairs with a cold one.
Note: the above statement may not be totally true.
Doesn't happen that way at my place....
It's really easy to tell the guys whose wives NEVER look over their shoulders at the computer screen, eh?
I can't speak for the black oxide process, although I understand it is done at room temperature so you wouldn't have to deal with the heaters, pumps, thermostats, and power supply. I can speak for Caswell's products in general, and I have been very happy. I set up to do acid dip, zinc plating, and cad plating for some of my restorations and I can't say enough about how well their set-ups really work. BIG maual with step by step to get started and forums to back up any other issues...
If you don't find a suitable oven on Craigslist but you have a "habitat for humanity Re-Store" nearby, check them out. Guys in the beaufort club got ovens, fridges, cabinets, furniture, tools, all sorts of things for their garage/shops from their nearby store. One guy got a nifty under counter electric oven (a Whirlpool, IIRC) for $25 bucks so his metal counter top stayed intact, and we got a Texas-Size beer fridge for the club garage for free (nobody else wanted it, it was too big). Perfect for several cases of Yuengling......Or Dixie VooDoo lager, if you prefer.
Beware, though, that electric ovens, in general, are notoriously innacurate for real temperature versus that displayed. It's just as important for powder coating as it is for cookies, so get a decent electronic BBQ Thermometer with a probe on a cable to place inside for better temp control.
Carl, find a small shop near you. A lot of them have the equipment and ovens to do small powder coat jobs. A lot of them are family businesses and would be happy to powder coat parts for you. Don't call a "powder coat shop" call around an industrial area that has a bunch a small machining going on. Thats a good place to start. I found someone locally that had the equipment and they were exited to do work knowing its going into classic car. Just a thought.
We are pretty fortunate around this area with all the RV related businesses. I have 3 powdercoat shops within a stone's throw... we've just learned which ones are more commercial (great for chassis/suspension) and which ones do show quality (engine tins, wheels) and we use them accordingly.
