Question On Curing Powder Paint

[psilvers]

I am curing some jigs that I have powder painted with white CSI powder. I have been curing them at ~300 for 20 minutes. When I say "approximately" I mean that the knob on my toaster oven is broken, but that would be a pretty good estimate of the setting. When the jigs go in they are glossy white, but when they come out they are a dull white. Could I be curing them at too high a temp? I don't have a lot of faith in the settings on the oven anyway, so the knob is not a big deal. One other note - this is a convection oven. Would that make a difference?

Thanks,

Pete

[smalljaw]

It could be the paint b ut I would bet the temp on the oven is too high. I'm not sure how a convection oven would effect the paint but the way a convection oven heats food I would say that the time might be a little much also. I cure my jigs in a regular oven at 350 for 20 min. and don't have any problems so if it is heat it would probably be over the 350 that I use.

[DDSBYDAY]

I am curing some jigs that I have powder painted with white CSI powder. I have been curing them at ~300 for 20 minutes. When I say "approximately" I mean that the knob on my toaster oven is broken, but that would be a pretty good estimate of the setting. When the jigs go in they are glossy white, but when they come out they are a dull white. Could I be curing them at too high a temp? I don't have a lot of faith in the settings on the oven anyway, so the knob is not a big deal. One other note - this is a convection oven. Would that make a difference?

Thanks,

Pete

It has to be your paint. It sounds like a flat white paint. The other possibility is you don't have enough coverage so the lead is showing through. Take a jig and lay it on a lead ingot. Give it a tap with a hammer and see what happens. If the paint shatters it is not cured. You could also run a couple through the regular oven and see if you get the same result. If it turns out that it is in fact a flat white paint you can get some clear gloss powder paint and just repeat the process.

[psilvers]

Thanks for the info. I took another jig and put it in the oven - after I turned the temp down - I baked it for 20 minutes and it seemed to come out better. The temperature may have been the answer. After cooling the jig I banged it against some metal and the jig dented, but did not chip. Can I assume that the paint is cured?

Also, I bought CSI powder that was labeled as white on the container. I didn't realize that there was a flat white and a gloss white. How do I tell the difference BEFORE I buy the paint?

Thanks,

Pete

[DDSBYDAY]

Thanks for the info. I took another jig and put it in the oven - after I turned the temp down - I baked it for 20 minutes and it seemed to come out better. The temperature may have been the answer. After cooling the jig I banged it against some metal and the jig dented, but did not chip. Can I assume that the paint is cured?

Also, I bought CSI powder that was labeled as white on the container. I didn't realize that there was a flat white and a gloss white. How do I tell the difference BEFORE I buy the paint?

Thanks,

Pete

With CSI you should get a gloss finish with all the colors except the glow colors. Those will be flat or non gloss. I like to go over those with a clear gloss. If the jig dented and did not chip your paint was cured. If you are not using glow white you should get a glossy finish provided you have enough paint on the jig.

[psilvers]

Thanks - I thought it should be glossy. I am pretty sure that it was the oven. I was judging the temp setting by how far the knob would move. I don't have much faith in temperature controls on toaster ovens, anyway. When I got the glossy jig, I marked the knob and the panel with a black marker.

Thanks for the help. That should fix this problem.

Pete

[Fatman]

Buy yourself some cheap insurance and quit guessing at your temp. Go get an oven thermometer and put it inside and check temp. Definately worth 3 bucks or so. Got mine at WalMart.

Fatman

[psilvers]

That is a good idea Fatman. I was just trying to work it out yesterday and the only thermometer that I had that was handy was a digital unit that I use with my smoker. That one is pretty accurate but it is older, so I might use it and buy myself a newer one for the smoker.

Pete

[jigtier]

I didn't read the other posts. Iv'e been powder coating heads since the early 90's. Try this then compare to 20 min and lower temps than I use. Throw the cured jig head very hard at a concrete floor. I think you'll find my method very good. I use temp of 400 degrees. Minimum time in the oven is one hr. I like 1 and a half hrs. better. If they go 2 hrs or more its no big deal. Years back when I last threw these heads on concrete the paint and the lead dented, but didn't chip. Thats not to say they won't chip. You may be able to throw harder than I. Hope this helps. -Paul aka jigtier

[psv]

Minimum time in the oven is one hr. I like 1 and a half hrs. better. If they go 2 hrs or more its no big deal. Years back when I last threw these heads on concrete the paint and the lead dented, but didn't chip. Thats not to say they won't chip. You may be able to throw harder than I. Hope this helps. -Paul aka jigtier

Paul,

I don't think it's necessary to keep them for 1 hour or more. 20-30 minutes at 350-370 (check the powder manufacture specs) will do the job. I test my heads and jigs using hammer with the same result.

Edited June 16, 2010 by psv

[BBK]

Minimum time in the oven is one hr. I like 1 and a half hrs. better. If they go 2 hrs or more its no big deal. Years back when I last threw these heads on concrete the paint and the lead dented, but didn't chip. Thats not to say they won't chip. You may be able to throw harder than I. Hope this helps. -Paul aka jigtier

Paul,

I don't think it's necessary to keep them for 1 hour or more. 20-30 minutes at 350-370 (check the powder manufacture specs) will do the job. I test my heads and jigs using hammer with the same result.

I do 15 min at 350. I can hit mine with a 5lb hammer and the lead will dent before the paint chips.