knifemaker3 Posted January 5, 2008 Report Share Posted January 5, 2008 Hey all, I finally got my fluid bed up and running good using brown paper filters. Painted some jigs today. Made sure the eyes were clean before putting them in for the 15 minute @ 350 degree cure. The eyes on about 2/3rds of the jigs came out plugged The paint flowed the eyes shut. Never had this problem when just dipping in the paint. Any suggestions? Any ideas on how to go ahead and open the eyes that are now cured shut? Thanks Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted January 6, 2008 Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 Get a nail or a pin tip real hot and push it through. Sounds like you are still getting too much paint on your jig. Sagging (during the curing) usually occurs when you have too much paint or the temperature/cure time is not correct. You might want to turn your heat down and extend your cure time. You can not trust your temperature control on your curing device. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knifemaker3 Posted January 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 LedHed, I'll try turning the heat down next time. And thanks for the tip, I'll do that to get the eyes cleared on the ones it happened to today. Thanks Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted January 6, 2008 Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 You may want to get a oven thermometer. Just hang it off one of the oven grates, you'd be suprised how many oven heat setting aren't even close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted January 6, 2008 Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 Craig, That timing/temp thing makes more of a difference than one might think. If the paint gets too hot, even thinner coats tend to run a little. I started setting mine at 300 degrees for thirty minutes and it seems to be doing OK. HTH TJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old man in the boat Posted January 6, 2008 Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 They have used dental picks at my local hardware store. The things are the best for poking the paint out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish devil Posted January 6, 2008 Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 buy a cheap thermostat make sure your temps are right. My toaster over is way off from what the dial is set at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkin Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 buy a cheap thermostat make sure your temps are right. My toaster over is way off from what the dial is set at. Mine is off by like 75 degrees. Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stream stalker Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 The time and temp thing is interesting. I talked to Pro tec on the phone and they told me 395 degrees for 20 minutes. It is not what the bottle says, but that is what they told me. I too have problems sometimes with the eyes closing the hook eyes after baking. Hmmmmm, maybe I should turn down my toaster oven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 395º for Pro Tec is really excessive. Columbia Coating usually cures hotter than PT but I don’t remember it being that high.. A real problem with the toaster ovens besides control is how the unit monitors its temperature, which relates back to control. The thermostat will help you but it is only as good as the sensing element. I use a thermocouple wire (type T) and place it in the center of the chamber and manually control (turn the set point up and down). TC readers are kind of expensive but a lot more accurate and really easy to use. The oven I have been using has about a 12º swing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayooper Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 I have a listing on my website that lists all of Pro-Tecs powder paint curing times by color. I still have to get the new colors that they came out with up there, but you should be able to judge it by similiar color. Here is the link: http://tjstackle.com/FluidBedProcess.htm I too stongly suggest getting an oven thermometer. My toaster oven is off by about 50 degrees. Thanks, Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
