Powder Coat question?

[DriftR]

Don't know much about Powder Coating but I am thinking about having my rocket launcher done. Because it is designed in such a way that it can rotate, after pulling a pill, I'm concerned about the thickness powder coating will add. The rocket launcher itself is mounted in a bracket located on top of the cabin roof near the open cockpit. By powder coating the rocket launcher itself will this add an appreciable thickness that will hinder the replacment of the RL back into its bracket? The brackets (2) are welded firmly on the cabin roof, so their removal is out of the question. Any help and ideas? Any recommendations of firms that do small powder coat projects?

[lost_sailor]

I believe powder coat runs about 4 mil thick. You could mask off where it fits in the bracket - of course that leaves it subject to corrosion.

Is there a coating on it now? It would need to be removed for best results.

I was in the biz about 15 years ago, I'm out of touch with who might do a small job. We used to have a significant set-up charge, but we'd slip in a small job if we could use the same color as a production job in progress. Gloss black is pretty common. Check the Yellow Pages under "Metal Finishing"

What's "pulling a pill" ? :whazzup:

[boater]

if its aluminum and you have had it wet with saltwater your wasting your money having it powder coated, it wont stick.

[lost_sailor]

I don't believe that's necessarily true. Surface preparation is the key to adhesion.

[DriftR]

Pulling a pin not pulling a pill. Thanks for that heads up.

[boater]

I don't believe that's necessarily true. Surface preparation is the key to adhesion.



call any powder coating company that knows what they are doing and they will tell you the same thing, the salt does somthing to the aluminum that makes powder coating not stick no matter how good you prep it.

[backlash442]

Buddy powder coated his rocket launchers and had to get them coated at least every other year due to chipping. He hated it. I know it may not be an option but S.S. is the only way to go.

[lost_sailor]

call any powder coating company that knows what they are doing and they will tell you the same thing, the salt does somthing to the aluminum that makes powder coating not stick no matter how good you prep it.



I guess I failed to acquire that knowledge during my 8 years in the metal finishing industry. Salt water will cause oxidation on the surface, but if it's not too extreme the piece could be etched or sandblasted. Old surface gone, and a new surface revealed.

We did more liquid polyurethane than anything, but went through tons of powder also. Granted, most of it was newly manufactured and had not been in a marine environment!

Powder coat is really hard, so yes it may be more prone to chipping on the edges. If it was me, I'd spray the thing with a rattle-can! And repeat as needed. :wave:


Pulling a pin not pulling a pill.


Dang! I thought I was going to learn some new rocket-launcher jargon ! :jester: :cheers: