Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • FINISHING
      • Finishing News
      • Finishing Technologies
      • Finishing Equipment
      • Finishing Today
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
    • Columns
      • Ask Joe Powder
      • Did you know?
      • Distribution Dive
      • Focus on Canada
      • Formulating With Mike
      • Innovation Insights
      • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
      • Powder Coating Perspectives
      • Target the Market
      • TiO2 Insider
    • Blogs
      • Editor's Viewpoint
      • Industry Insights
    • Coatings Supplier Handbook
    • Podcasts and Videos
      • COAT-IT! Podcast
      • Videos/PCI TV
    • PCI Store
    • Classifieds
    • eBooks
    • Sponsor Insights
    • White Papers
    • COATLE Word Game
  • EVENTS
    • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
    • Paint and Coatings Academy
    • Webinars
    • Calendar of Events
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Equipment Directory
    • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • eMagazine Archive
    • China Issue Archive
    • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe to eMagazine
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • SIGN UP!
FT Archives

Ask Joe Powder

December 1, 2006
Hello Joe,
We currently use 1K paint on OEM parts and are planning to build a mini-line to paint powder on class A parts

Hello Joe,

We currently use 1K paint on OEM parts and are planning to build a mini-line to paint powder on class A parts. The size of the booth we want is 3 ft square with a line speed of 2 fpm, running 16 hours per day. How do we build a booth and collection system to capture powder overspray?

Khem Ramsaran, Paintline - Rollstamp Manufacturing

Greetings Khem,

It sounds like you need a “starter-kit” application booth to allow you to enter powder technology.

To construct one yourself, you will need a box-like structure to act as a target for the oversprayed powder. This can be built with plastic. Clear polycarbonate works well but is expensive; high-density polyethylene can also be used. Alternately, you can have your local tinman fabricate a sheet metal box. The box should be tapered in the back leading to a 3 or 4 in. duct flange. Booth illumination is recommended. A window can be fashioned in the sheet metal or opaque plastic, if used. Clear polycarbonate has obvious advantages for light distribution.

The working component of the booth is a dust collector. This can be purchased either new or used, if you would like to be frugal. I would recommend a small unit that has a minimum of 300 cfm capacity. There are a number of used equipment suppliers that offer these. I would check the websites of Federal Equipment, Aaron Equipment, Ingalls Equipment, Arnold Equipment and HGR Equipment.

The dust collector will have to be connected to the booth with suitably sized piping that is available from your local hardware supplier. I recommend industrial quality ductwork as opposed to residential heating piping. Ductwork and clamps can be ordered from McMaster-Carr and Grainger catalogs if a local source is not available.

These guidelines will allow you to design a spray-to-waste process. If you want to capture and recycle the oversprayed powder, you will need a more sophisticated system from a booth manufacturer. Companies such as Nordson, ITW-Gema, Wagner, Parker Ionics and Deimco can provide an off-the-shelf unit to meet your needs.

Dear Joe,

I have a customer who has pulled steel parts from various areas of the racks to test three colors for salt spray. All colors passed in an earlier salt spray test, but one color failed in the recent test. Film thickness and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) testing showed the part to be okay. I have explained to the customer that the product will pass if it is pretreated properly, has the correct film thickness and is cured correctly. How would you convince the customer that the powder is okay?

Salt Spray

Dear Salty,

Your customer is wise to test powders on parts pulled from his pretreatment line. In doing so, he not only tests the powders in real-world conditions as opposed to idealized lab conditions (e.g., using Bonderite® panels), but also measures how well his pretreatment system is performing. You are wise to measure the film thickness and solvent resistance to verify that the powder has been applied and cured correctly.

If the powder demonstrates acceptable film thickness and solvent resistance but exhibits questionable salt spray performance, then the issue to address is the quality of the substrate and pretreatment. Are some of the parts excessively dirty (e.g., smut, forming oils, oxidation)? Is the pretreatment system adequate for the condition of the substrates? Is the pretreatment system adequately maintained? Are the chemicals within the supplier’s specified ranges? Are the rinses clean? Are the spray nozzles all in working order? Are the required solution temperatures being maintained within specification?

From what you’re telling me, I suspect that either the incoming parts vary widely in cleanliness and/or quality, or the pretreatment system is out of control. I suggest that you work closely with this customer to evaluate the quality of the incoming parts and the pretreat system, then rerun the same tests. It doesn’t hurt to include lab test panels as a benchmark alongside the line parts being evaluated.


Ask Joe Powder is a regular feature of Finishing Today magazine. Please send your questions to askjoepowder@yahoo.com.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • pci1022-Kinaltek-Lead-1170.jpg

    A Novel Pigment Production Technology

    Following an extensive R&D program that demonstrated...
    Paint and Coating Pigments
    By: Jawad Haidar and Nitin Soni
  • pci global top 10

    2025 Global Top 10: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

    The following is PCI’s annual ranking of the top 10...
    Paint and Coating Market Reports
    By: Courtney Bassett
  • 2025 pci 25

    2025 PCI 25: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

    PCI's annual ranking of the top 25 North American paint...
    Paint and Coating Market Reports
    By: Courtney Bassett
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the PCI audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of PCI or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.
    Sponsored byEPS - Engineered Polymer Solutions

    Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation

  • paint sprayer in a workshop
    Sponsored byallnex

    Enabling Performance and Compliance: allnex Introduces a New Line of VOC Exempt Solvent-Borne Resins

Popular Stories

No. 7 BASF Coatings

BASF Comments on Potential Sale of Coatings Business

No. 3 AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel’s $1.4B Divestment Signals Strategy Shift

PCI voices from the top

eBook | PCI Voices from the Top



PCI Buyers Guide

Submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to suppliers of your choice with details on what you need with a click of a button

Start your RFP

Browse our Buyers Guide for manufacturers and distributors of all types of coatings products and much more!

Find Suppliers

Events

September 3, 2025

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit

The Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT) Summit is an annual conference for both liquid and powder coatings formulators and manufacturers to discuss innovations in coatings technology. This event combines high-quality technical presentations, a resource-rich exhibit hall, and dedicated networking opportunities to connect scientific minds, foster innovation, and cultivate game-changing new ideas!

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Longest-running laboratory experiment

What is the longest-running laboratory experiment?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

CTT Summit Short Courses (Live 9/3/25)

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit is expanding its offerings with four short courses. These short courses will offer an extensive day of interactive learning.

See More Products
pci voices from the top ebook

PCI CASE EBOOK

Related Articles

  • ask-joe-powder-column-1170.jpg

    Ask Joe Powder: What Are Your Powder Coating Questions and Challenges?

    See More
  • ask-joe-powder-column-1170.jpg

    Ask Joe Powder: What Are Your Powder Coating Questions and Challenges?

    See More
  • ask-joe-powder-column-1170.jpg

    Ask Joe Powder: What Are Your Powder Coating Questions and Challenges?

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Kevin-Biller-PC-BOOK.jpg

    Powder Coatings - Foundation for the Novice Formulator (ebook)

  • marketsandmarketslogo.jpg

    Metallic Powder Coatings Market by Process Type (Bonding, Blending, Extrusion)...

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Little Joe Industries

    Proof press to test print offset printing ink, automatic draw down machine for use with grind gauges.
  • Little Joe Industries

    Proof press to test print offset printing ink, automatic draw down machine for use with grind gauges.
  • Micro Powders Inc.

    Micro Powders' additives solve problems and achieve unique coating surface effects including: slip, rub, abrasion, scratch resistance; gloss reduction, burnish resistance; water repellency; texture, tactile, and soft touch effects. We are leaders in creating innovative particle technologies, including natural/biodegradable grades and nanocomposite wax PTFE alternatives.
×

Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey & Sample
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing