Might be getting a Powder Coat machine... Need Advice

[Hankins]

Might be getting a Powder Coat machine... Need Advice
After a long decision process (IE:Little Funds) it looks like Powder Coating blades is the way to go.
Good idea?
Bad idea?
Who makes a quality machine?
What brand powder should be used?

 

[Al Polkowski]

http://www.eastwood.com/original-hotcoat-powdercoating-gun-1.html

Check out the videos.

Al P


www.polkowskiknives.com

 

[Mark Redmon]

http://www.eastwood.com/original-hotcoat-powdercoating-gun-1.html

Check out the videos.

Al P


www.polkowskiknives.com

That's the one I've been looking at also...

 

[Patrickknives]

I would be interested in seeing how you plan to use, handles, blades? could do some cool stuff

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Powder coat is just tough, baked paint. Why not just sand/bead blast or polish your blades? Paint will wear off.

 

[Hankins]

The blades will get a beadblast prior to the Powdercoat for adhesion. As the coating wears it will still stay in the low spots of the beadblast.
Mainly interested in hearing which Mfg. makes the best powder.
Whenever a knife gets used it gets scratched and marred whether there is a coating or not

 

[Ryan Minchew]

I don't know much about it, but have you looked at gunkote I think its called? Maybe cheaper than a powder coat macine and able to do more patterns from what I have heard. Don't know much about either one, you may have checked that already.

 

[Hankins]

Guncoat is good material however it is also around $24 for a 4oz can
Powder coater is $100 and change shipped. However the powder will be far less expensive for repeated use IMO

 

[Ryan Minchew]

Guncoat is good material however it is also around $24 for a 4oz can
Powder coater is $100 and change shipped. However the powder will be far less expensive for repeated use IMO

Gotcha, I was figuring the powder coater would be expensive. Your on top of it lol

 

[Frank Niro]

Hey people, what does this powder coat supposed to do? Is it for decoration or is it a case hardening powder? I would think that as been noted in the past that one or two sharpenings if it's a case hardener and there goes any advantage. Frank

 

[Jim Adams Customs]

Powder coat is just tough, baked paint. Why not just sand/bead blast or polish your blades? Paint will wear off.

Powder coating is used as a protected coating more than anything. It is tough finish when done right will last for years. It also allows High carbon steels to be used in extreme environment. Rat Cutlery uses 1095 and powder coating on most of it knives.

I have a friend that does powder coating. He charges me $10.00 a blade.
For what I do in powder coated blades, 12 blades this year.
I can not justify the cost of the set up, sand blast cabinet, Air compressor, Powder coating unit, and The Oven.