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subject: re: spray guns for powder coating

updated mon 2 jul 01

 

iandol on sun 1 jul 01


I was under the impression that "Powder Coating" was an industrial =
process which was used to apply various thermoplastic finishes to =
metallic objects. One way required no more equipment than a hot oven to =
bring the metal up to a pre-determined temperature and a way of creating =
a dusty atmosphere from the plastic which settled on the hot metal and =
melted, in a way very similar to the way in which copper aquatint plates =
are coated with resin. The process used in industry was carried out in a =
controlled environment and the articles were given a high voltage charge =
which helped to get an even distribution of powder over the surface. I =
think Hoover used this process for Refrigerator cabinets.
Powder coating is also a term used in spraying metals such as zinc and =
aluminium to create corrosion resistant finishes. Though many suppliers =
used wire as a feed stock, equipment was made to spray metallic powder.
It could be that they are importing cheap copies of this type of =
equipment for the home handyman.
Ivor Lewis, Redhill, south Australia