Check it out:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr...fo4VR

For $159 + the option of 20 different colors to choose from, doesn't seem to be too bad. Now I need to make room for an oven in my garage...

 

people who know more about this type of stuff than me, have said that the baking process (and specifically, the rapid cooling after baking) severely weakens the aluminum, and have cited wheel failures after just a few sessions on track after powder coating

 

If you have a compressor, save $30:

http://www.eastwood.com/jump.j...ICKER

They've been selling this system for several years and comes with some of the powder, too.

 

saw it during on of the Nascar races this weekend. Looks neat; the air cleaner and valve cover they showed looked great

 

I have the Eastwood one at work and can testify that it works fairly well. As for the effect on aluminum parts, it depends on the temps used to cure that particular powder and the specific aluminum involved. The powders we use at work cure in the 400-450 degF range which is high enough to start changing temper. The time at a particular temperature matters a lot with aluminum too.

 

I don't quite understand how 450 degrees could have any adverse affects on aluminum. Aluminum brake calipers on racecars probably see at least that temperature if not much hotter every time they hit the track with no adverse affects. People boil 600 degree brake fluid right?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elgorey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">people who know more about this type of stuff than me, have said that the baking process (and specifically, the rapid cooling after baking) severely weakens the aluminum, and have cited wheel failures after just a few sessions on track after powder coating</TD></TR></TABLE>

I understand if people are worried about the aluminum weakening, a way around that is to just...not powder coat something as important as wheels. You could do the valve cover.....anything of that sort.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LBHgti &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't quite understand how 450 degrees could have any adverse affects on aluminum. Aluminum brake calipers on racecars probably see at least that temperature if not much hotter every time they hit the track with no adverse affects. People boil 600 degree brake fluid right?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think the type of aluminum they use in wheels and the ones in the brake calipers are different. I'm not sure but I would think they are in some way or another.

 

anybody try this one from harbor freight http://www.harborfreight.com/c...42802

 

The sears one is crap, you'll need to refill the container 100 times to do a valve cover because it dosnt hold much powder at all. As far as weakening aluminum, it depends on the grade. The only grade thats really affected by the temperature for curing is t6061 t6, or any other in the T6 stage. In the T6 stage the al is at full temper, meaning its heat treated to the hightest point where the aluminum is its strongest. Curing any longer will actually weaken the metal. You must also remember when powder coating, you need more than a gun, powder, and an oven, theres a lot more associated with the whole process if you want it to come out nice!