[SEL] Powder Coating Engines

[diesel at easynet.co.uk]

Quoting Paul Maples <pmaples at anaxis.net>:

> Hey Gang, things seem to be a little slow on the SEL right now and since I
> have been wondering about this I thought I would throw it out to the group.
> Has anyone powder coated an engine and if so how did it come out? I know you
> have to have one heck of an oven to do this and I figured that somewhere out
> in cyberspace someone has bound to have built a homemade one and submitted
> his plans. Probably have to sell the wife and kids to fire it just once but
> still would like to know the feasibility of such a project.
> 
> Someone mentioned that this might have been discussed last year but I don't
> remember seeing it but then again age is affecting my sight, hearing, and
> reasoning ability so you will have to forgive me. If anyone has done this
> let me hear about your results.
> 
> I guess another option would be to get the parts ready and have someone that
> has the setup do the powder coating, wonder what this would cost for a
> normal size 3 to 6 HP engine? Hey it don't cost a penny to wonder, at least
> not just yet.
> 
> Thanks

Hi Paul:

We use powder coating for all our commercial products at the factory, and did 
have a couple of engines shot blasted then powder coated some time ago.

A few things I would comment on:

1) The powder will soften with heat, so areas around the cylinder head for 
example will discolour.

2) The powder is put on electrostaically so complex shapes can be difficult to 
get powder into, so some retouching may be required.

3) The coating is thicker than paint by some distance, so it does tend to smooth 
over surface imperfections. If you like to see all the casting marks etc, you 
may find that powder is too good a finish.

4) It is not easily polished and takes scratches easily. Some solvents will 
attack the surface, depending on whether you have Polyester or Polyurethane 
powder. Polyester is the hardest wearing and used for outdoors, the other is for 
indoors use.

5) It needs a good key to hang on to the surface, so shotblasting first is a 
good idea. 

6) Zinc spraying after shotblasting but before powder coating is very good for 
things that sit outdoors all the time like trailer chassis etc.

We still have the two engines BTW, both are staying in the collection.

Peter
-- 

Peter Forbes
diesel at easynet.co.uk
http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel

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