DIY Powder Coating Better Than Paint

DIY Powder Coating Better Than Paint FARM SHOP Handy Hints Todd Schminke says that if you have some metal parts to paint you’re better off with “do it yourself” powder-coating It’s cheaper and the coating lasts longer Schminke was frustrated when a receiver hitch holder he built started rusting He was tired of his various receiver hitches rolling around in the back of his truck so he designed and built a 5-hitch holder “I spray-painted it but I wasn’t happy with the durability of the paint ” says Schminke “After a time it started flaking and rusting ” By then Schminke was selling his hitch holders He prices them at $30 for a 2-hitch unit and $10 for each additional holding pocket He looked into custom powder coating but the cost was more than the hitches were worth That’s when he came across a solution at www eastwood com Eastwood sells a $900 professional powder coating system and a $5 400 4 by 4 by 6-ft oven but they also have starter kits for as little as $52 97 The kits include an 11 000-volt electrode gun black powder and all the accessories needed The company website also includes how-to information All Schminke had to provide was a low-pressure air line and an oven capable of reaching 400 to 500F “It’s not bad to do ” he says “I use a standard home oven and powder coat all my hitch holders I’ve even started doing some custom powder coating for others ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Todd Schminke 403 5th St E Newhall Iowa 52315 ph 319 223-7586; www facebook com/HeartNHand17

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