Powder Clinic: Powder Coating Small Parts
Parts vary in size and shape, making it difficult to find "the best" process for painting small pieces.
Q. What is the best way to paint really small pieces with powder coat? I currently make my own custom racks and then dispose of them after one-time use.
A. That is a tough one, especially without seeing the part. A lot depends on what kind of contact area you have. If you have a short part with some area that can be free of powder, such as a screw, you can drill holes into a steel bar and drop the parts into the holes.
Spring-tempered stainless steel can sometimes be used to grip the part with inward tension on a stud or outward tension in a hole. Wire can be used in some cases to hang the parts or clip them with tension. Magnets are sometimes effective, although they are not inexpensive and they have a limited life span from repeated heating and cooling. It is a hard task in general. If you give me a specific part shape and size it would be easier to suggest something specific.
Originally published in the October 2016 issue.
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