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This is such an important step to insure proper curing of your powder.
I DO NOT CARE IF YOUR LABEL ON THE POWDER SAYS WAIT UNTIL FLOW OUT! EX:Eastwood's labels say this and its WRONG. (Don't cure like this)
I have done test panels that took only 2-5 minutes to heat up, and I just did thick steel tubes that took 10 minutes just to get to 400F.
Buy an Inferred Thermometer, a good one. This will be one of the best tools you will ever use in powder coating.
If the instructions tell you 400f/10 minutes this is what I do:
1.) Coat part around 95F-150F (Higher temp only if its a difficult substrate to coat). Some clear coats require the substrate to be completely cool before applying; you need to double check on this.
2.) Place substrate in the oven.
3.) Wait around 2-5 minutes then open the oven. Use your IR gun and shoot the part around 1-2 inches away and see what the temperature is.
4.) When the temperature reaches your curing schedule (400f) start your timer.
5.) About half way through the timer I check the substrate temperature again just to be sure everything is the same or better.
Troubleshooting:
1.) My part never gets to 400F etc.
a.) Bump up your temperature on the oven.
b.) You are shooting a part of the substrate that might be reflective and bouncing the IR laser somewhere else.
c.) You are trying to shoot your IR gun through the oven window. This will not work do not try it.
2.) How can I tell if my substrate is under cured?
a.) Do the MEK test. Buy some MEK and a lint free rag. Pour some of the MEK on the rag and rub it against your cured and cooled substrate about 2-4 times back and fourth. If there is no color on the rag from your powder coating you have cured correctly.
b.) Sand blast the substrate. If the substrate's powder coat is easily blasted of you are under curing.
3.) How do I fix under curing?
a.) Leave substrate in the oven longer. If I see a cure schedule of 400F/10 minutes, I cure at 400F-430F for 20 minutes assuming you have a good over bake stability powder.
I hope this helps and if you have any questions please post. Also if you have anything to add please post.
I DO NOT CARE IF YOUR LABEL ON THE POWDER SAYS WAIT UNTIL FLOW OUT! EX:Eastwood's labels say this and its WRONG. (Don't cure like this)
I have done test panels that took only 2-5 minutes to heat up, and I just did thick steel tubes that took 10 minutes just to get to 400F.
Buy an Inferred Thermometer, a good one. This will be one of the best tools you will ever use in powder coating.
If the instructions tell you 400f/10 minutes this is what I do:
1.) Coat part around 95F-150F (Higher temp only if its a difficult substrate to coat). Some clear coats require the substrate to be completely cool before applying; you need to double check on this.
2.) Place substrate in the oven.
3.) Wait around 2-5 minutes then open the oven. Use your IR gun and shoot the part around 1-2 inches away and see what the temperature is.
4.) When the temperature reaches your curing schedule (400f) start your timer.
5.) About half way through the timer I check the substrate temperature again just to be sure everything is the same or better.
Troubleshooting:
1.) My part never gets to 400F etc.
a.) Bump up your temperature on the oven.
b.) You are shooting a part of the substrate that might be reflective and bouncing the IR laser somewhere else.
c.) You are trying to shoot your IR gun through the oven window. This will not work do not try it.
2.) How can I tell if my substrate is under cured?
a.) Do the MEK test. Buy some MEK and a lint free rag. Pour some of the MEK on the rag and rub it against your cured and cooled substrate about 2-4 times back and fourth. If there is no color on the rag from your powder coating you have cured correctly.
b.) Sand blast the substrate. If the substrate's powder coat is easily blasted of you are under curing.
3.) How do I fix under curing?
a.) Leave substrate in the oven longer. If I see a cure schedule of 400F/10 minutes, I cure at 400F-430F for 20 minutes assuming you have a good over bake stability powder.
I hope this helps and if you have any questions please post. Also if you have anything to add please post.
that is what we are here for...
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