Powder coating

[Robk0000]

Ive been powder coating random **** around the house now for quite some time im getting pretty good at it and am thinking i could refinish the brembos i just got. They do have slight paint chips and scratches that this could really make look NICE. Heres a sample color i choose, its similar to the brembo color but a little brighter, i really like the shade of gold the brembos are, but cant find any tgic powders with that color.

Should I i coat the Calipers?


http://forum.caswellplating.com/photopost/watermark.php?file=943&size=1

[jonny-rockets]

rob,

Ive been powder coating random **** around the houseall i have to say is wow, that is awesome.
that looks sweet. i would go for it man.

[Kevin]

why not do a custom color. You find the brembo decals?

[Murphy2012]

Hmmmm. I kinda want some stuff coated....like MY calipers

[Robk0000]

The gold i posted above matches my rim color which is SWEET! But im going to try and find a Better color, maybe ill play with photoshop for a bit. I can get the Brembo stickers online and just put a gel coat of Polyester epxoy over it, this will prevent it from peeling, but then again im not sure how the epoxy will react to the high temps that the brakes will go through.

[Robk0000]

My oven, yeah its high tech!
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/car026.jpg

I did my stock calipers last year and they came out awesome, i guess i could do Red.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_0411.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_0414.jpg

[Murphy2012]

Ya I kinda want to paint my brembos black. I am thinking of a new look for the car right now.

[Robk0000]

I even have black, more than plenty! Before i swap my wheels ill see how much of a pain it is to get the paint finsih off the brembos. If the process is easy, ill powdercoat them, if not. They go on as is.

[Murphy2012]

Ya, its not hard. When I was installing mine, a little brake fluid drip was enough to start it peeling. But then again, it was super blue. :)

[Robk0000]

tear down has begun, thanks for convincing me GUYS!


Results in a few hours. lol

[Murphy2012]

No prob, just dont get mad at us if it doesnt come out the way you want. If this works, would you mind doing mine black?

[Kevin]

a guy on nasioc did his in black they came out pretty good I think.
here is a pic http://zballantine.com/MY06/NewLegacy05.jpg[/quote]

[Murphy2012]

Those arent powdercoated though, right? I pretty much want mine black, and then put the brembo stickers on em, then get some black emotions or cr kai's. :D I was even possibly thinking of time attack. For some reason my car is nasty (IMO) but no one else thinks it is.

[Kevin]

he said that was powdercoated on his thread. you can have them powdercoated then just put the decals over it.

[Robk0000]

Definately going Red, i got the fronts torn apart already to my disbelief. Tomorrow will be another 8 hour day, just not electrical stuff.

Pics:

First we have a few pics of the scratches...
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1196.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1198.jpg

All Before Disassembly
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1199.jpg
After disassembly
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1200.jpg

taking them apart was rather easy, although the toughest part was pulling the pistons out without damaging them.

[jonny-rockets]

that looks pretty sweet.

[Robk0000]

This is the black i have

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/car018.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/car020.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/car023.jpg

[Robk0000]

Shiny but doesnt reflect much, hard to scratch especially after 2 layers.

[jonny-rockets]

what is the actual process of powder coating? what equipment do you need for it?

[Robk0000]

I bought the Craftsman 321 Powdercoater when it first came out, if i was to get a new gun i would get something different though. Caswell plating is where i buy all my materials, powders, cups...

First you get a powdercoater, it has a isolated ground cord that you attach to the piece of metal you wish to powder coat, then you apply a positively charged spray of powder to the metal, it sticks to the metal so long as its connected to the ground. Opposites attract. + to - is what you are doing, the Craftsman system uses a fan to kinda spray the powder, professional guns use air compressors which shoot a set speed, making them more complicated but creating better results because you can do an even bead. just like painting.

After you spray whatever it u want to coat. You bake it. Usually 350-400 degrees at the metal. Not the oven temp, then you start your countdown, depending on the size of the piece and density of the metal, it adds more time to the clock. The simple way of this is to wait for the metal to heat up to the desired temp, i go to around 380-400 and let it sit for 10-15 mins at the temperature. After that period of time you should see the powder to look liquidy, or like really hot syrup. Glazed over kind of. This is when the baking is done, now you can take it out of the oven and let it sit. A LONG TIME! i burnt myself on my calipers even after waiting nearly 30 mins. And your done. Before you coat or even bake anything, make sure to take out rubber gaskets, plastics and things that can melt. Also you wanna cover up or seal things you dont wanna coat prior to spraying, I have a really large High temp silcone Cone shaped set of plugs. Which was very expensive, they work awesome. And they can resist the high temps too.

I think that it.

Get it? Its actually quite easy and if you screw up there is a powdercoat remover lotion you can purchase.

[Murphy2012]

Ya thats a nice black

[Nate8409]

Hell yeah Rob. I Love it!

I have a bunch of stuff I want to powdercoat but paying some professional to do it sucks.

If I had a garage I would have been powdercoating everything I own! When I redo the paint on my Brembos I want to do them either black, blue or yellow.

So damn sweet. Updates?

[jonny-rockets]

awesome man nice write up!

kind of like electroplating, but with paint

[Robk0000]

Well not yet, i went to bed at 12 lastnight working on the rears too. So now that all 4 calipers are seperated, its time to remove paint!

i have Super BLue brake fluid but i dont htink that will do the trick, im going to head to autozone now and get some super strenghth paint remover. let the caliper sit in that for a while, then we will see if i can get atleast one coated tonight!

[Nate8409]

Oh man. I can't wait to see the finished product! Are you going to paint on any kind of symbols or names?

Might I suggest the Kanji ... http://japanese.about.com/blkod143.htm

I also like this one "to please," or "Happy" http://japanese.about.com/blkod473.htm

[jonny-rockets]

haha. good suggestion. "to stop". me likey.

http://z.about.com/d/japanese/1/0/v/Q/kod143_1.jpg

[Robk0000]

HAHA. no. Maybe brembo sticker. Paint is coming off easily i bouight some aircraft paint stripper, put it on and let it sit. 30 mins later will be done.

Then i coat red.

[Robk0000]

Maybe i should throw some Glow in the dark additive, only visible at Night, glows green. Yet my calipers will be Red. that would be funny

[Robk0000]

UPDATE:


1/2 of FR caliper is in the oven. It almost didnt Fit!

[Robk0000]

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1202.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1201.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1203.jpg

[2mprzya]

those came out sick man!

[Robk0000]

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1205.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1206.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1207.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1208.jpg

THEY CAME OUT PERFECT! so happy you guys told me to do this.

[Robk0000]

Black smudges are just grease so dont worry about quality becayse its perfect!

[starhm]

where do you get you powder coat from? i might have to check out the sears catalog or something here...i could use this on quite a few things. what did the equipment cost you back then? nice write up.

[Robk0000]

its not paint, just powder. I buy all my powdercoating stuff from Caswellplating.com Lots of colors, candy, metallics, embossed and random additives. Pretty cheap too.

[starhm]

thanks man!

found the powder coat system on sears.com for 189.99. this is starting to sound very interesting...

[Robk0000]

yes that is wahat i have, it works great.

[somethingpink03]

Looks good!

[Robk0000]

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1209.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1209.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1211.jpg



They will be on my car this Friday!

[rogerdugans]

Looks great, man. :)

Like many others I'm sure, I am now thinking about whether or not it would be worth it for me to get my own setup. ;)

In my case, likely not: under warranty for the car for 3 years, and most of the other stuff I have... well, powder coating isn't really justified.

But it does look great. :)

[banned4life]

thanks man!

found the powder coat system on sears.com for 189.99. this is starting to sound very interesting...

if u provide the garage, i will go halves on the kit with you. i want to do my calipers, mufflers, and probably wheels next year (or sooner if u move).

[banned4life]

rob -

if you still have some extra black, id like to do my calipers. thanks!

[Kevin]

I think I want to find a old full size oven for this so I can do big parts.
the kit sounds like it would pay for it's self with 1 or two uses.

[04silvrrex]

i have an oven i would get rid of cheap...or trade to have mine powdercoated.. let me know!

[starhm]

if u provide the garage, i will go halves on the kit with you. i want to do my calipers, mufflers, and probably wheels next year (or sooner if u move).

dont know if you could find an oven big enough to do your wheels...that is huge...and mufflers...that is bigger than a toaster oven...:eek:

[starhm]

04 has it going on...do i need to buy the kit 4 you...will u be a slave to the grind...have credit card will provide...

[banned4life]

dont know if you could find an oven big enough to do your wheels...that is huge...and mufflers...that is bigger than a toaster oven...:eek:


craigs list ftw! how hot does the oven have to get? mufflers would fit in a normal size oven

[Robk0000]

i researched making my own kiln, at first it seemed pretty affordable. The special bricks and mortar, but then i read some stuff at how easy they blow up...so i changed my mind. The oven would need to hit 450. And be big enough to powdercoat a wheel. So, 18 x 18 x18 interior dimensions.

[Robk0000]

If you guys are looking for an oven, try looking for kilns. They usually are 120v and cheaper. Pottery kiln FTW!

[Robk0000]

http://cgi.ebay.com/L-L-ECONO-KILN-MODEL-J18X-LIKE-NEW-POTTERY-CERAMICS_W0QQitemZ360041815648QQihZ023QQcategoryZ1 16495QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

One of these would be excellent. BUt under $100

[Nate8409]

I tried somehting new, brembo is on the wheel and not the caliper.

Yay or Nay?

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n76/robsimprza00/IMG_1234.jpg


Is this picture accurate?

[Robk0000]

its a picture that i took with my own camera. Yes, i know the brembo is not centered exactly if thats what you are going to say.

[Nate8409]

No. The caliper is upside down. That was what I was wondering.

[GrassyKnoll]

No. The caliper is upside down. That was what I was wondering.

:banghead:

[Nate8409]

soooo ????

[Murphy2012]

Ya, I didnt realize that, it is upside down Rob.

[jonny-rockets]

If you guys are looking for an oven, try looking for kilns. They usually are 120v and cheaper. Pottery kiln FTW!

also don't forget to hit up craigslist. there are plenty of people on there with money who just give away stuff in teh "free stuff" section. you keep a watchful eye for a bit im sure you could get a free oven

[Nate8409]

I just saw the picture posted over in your thread Terry and saw that so brought it over here to tell him.

Ya, I didnt realize that, it is upside down Rob.

[Robk0000]

the calipers dont need to be the other way. If you bled them with a 2x4 in between the pistons upside down.



but i will fix it, when i do my rears.

[Nate8409]

hahah okay. You could do that and keep them down but isn't it easier just to put them up right side up lol.

[RCKSTR]

this is a sexy project:D I've been thinking about getting one of those guns from sears for over a year now and after seeing what you've done with it I've decided to get it! you can powdercoat sooo much stuff, calipers, wheels, misc brackets, pipes, ect...
again, they came out really good, nice job:)

[Chillin]

Gah, I'd love to do my calipers to match my car and get my wheels done in gold. Nothing crazy, but I love the colors.

[Nate8409]

Imagine it Rob. Get a full size oven and you could do wheels.

That would be sickkkK!

[Robk0000]

dont give me ideas. :lol:

[jonny-rockets]

FREE OVEN.

do it, you won't

http://nh.craigslist.org/zip/686805268.html

http://images.craigslist.org/0101090115000102012008051919f326c6827ffa350c00827b .jpg

[Robk0000]

lol, no.

[etaks99rs]

Rob, could you somehow do a clearcoat over the brembo sticker?

[Robk0000]

Yeah, they sell a powder that you can powdercoat on, but the sticker would melt in the oven, my only option would be to use a stencil with brembo logo. But that would take alot of practice and time. So, its possible but im not going to try it.

[etaks99rs]

So you would do the color then hand paint the stencil? Would the hand paint stay on the powdercaoted surface?

[Robk0000]

Well what i should have done was powdercoat the red then immediately after curing do another coat only using the brembo stencil in powdercoat. I think the high temp thick paint will work on the powder finish but it may peel off after the brakes start to heat up.

[etaks99rs]

How long did the whole process take?

[Robk0000]

3 hours of sanding and cleaning each caliper, (i dont have a sandblaster) 30 secs of applying the powder, and 30 mins in the oven. Done.

its very simple and not time consuming if you have a cleaner.

[etaks99rs]

Does anyone have a sandblaster? I am pretty interested in turning my brembos blue.

[jonny-rockets]

pretty sure terry does. but your gonna have to try like hell to get a hold of him. he's one bsy fcker

[Murphy2012]

Tom works at Belknap Subaru, not far from me or the garage. I have a bead blaster and a sand blaster. Sand blasters at home, the bead blaster is at the shop. I am gonna have rob do my brakes soon too, he just doesnt know it yet. :) Thats gonna be my fee for helping with the swap.

[Robk0000]

sounds good.

:)

[etaks99rs]

Terry, let me know when you guys are gonna do your brakes. I really want to check it out.

[Robk0000]

You guys blast them, and ill coat them. Small fee just to cover powder and electric bill. Terry gets a freebe.

[etaks99rs]

sounds good to me