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How are frames painted?
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Posted by: Jon K.
Does anyone know how the M/C companies paint their frames? Honda? Yamaha? Polaris? Arctic Cat?
We build a utility vehicle, and use black powdercoat on the frame. I works and looks great, but the paint system is complicated and expensive to run.
I would like to ask if anyone knows what else is out there.
Jon
Posted by: XRpredator
I know the KTM's are now powder coated, and it's probably more cost effective if you have a plethora of them to do rather than one at a time. Powder coating isn't really all that different cost-wise than a good urethane enamel paint job. More and more places are offering it, and a lot will do the small jobs. If I were doing a frame, I'd look into it pretty hard before I resorted to a bomb-can.
Posted by: gwcrim
I'm with Pred. If you've gone to the trouble to strip something to the frame, go first class and powder coat it. That stuff is bullet proof.
Posted by: Jon K.
Thanks for the input, but you guys have missed the point a bit.
We do 75 vehicles a week, are looking to go to 100, plus the assorted bits and widgets to go with them. We are quickly outgrowing our present powder system, and need to upgrade.
We powder paint this entire vehicle, bed, frame, etc. With the increasing price of natural gas; I would like to look at alternatives. The first question is always: "What do the other guys do?"
See the Chuckwagon; http://www.bristers.com/chuckwagon.html
Thanks;
Jon
Posted by: XRpredator
ah, I see your dilemma. While powdercoating is "da bomb", I can see your reluctance to upgrade your system.
Only trouble with painting a tube frame is the angles you have to get into to ensure proper coverage. I can see this being more labor intensive and not really speeding up your process. Are there any local, bigger powdercoat shops that you could farm it out to?
I hope you figure something out, man.
Posted by: Matt R
What about E-coating? It is used on many automotive components as an alternative to powder coating. It has good salt spray resistance, typically up to 336 hours. However, chip resistance is not as good as powder coat. The choice of coating really depends on the customer requirements that you are hoping to meet or exceed.
Posted by: Jaybird
You need a nice conveyor system, a powder booth, and a cure oven.
Maybe a nice spray wash and dry oven too.
You may be able to check in some industrial rags to see if anyone is selling their old system. I've seen some mom-n-pop shops get some really great systems for very little cash. You will more than likely need to be able to disassemble/transport/reassemble though.
If you are interested in going big time, I can help you. I've installed many of these systems.
Posted by: Jon K.
Thanks everyone.
We have decided to upgrade our existing system. Price of natural gas notwithstanding.
A new two-man spraybooth, and a much larger (longer duration) cure oven will allow us to run the chain faster. Our wash and dry-off oven will serve as is.
Actually, I am a bit worried that our dry-off oven will be the weak link now.
Jay; are there any electric-heated cure ovens out there?
We will be running maybe 80 feet of chain though the cure oven at 450 degrees.
Posted by: Jaybird
The high temps needed to cure powder is hard for any sort of electric radiant heat booth to handle.
I can do some looking and see what may be available in that type.
Radiants are usually good for about half that temp.
Are you using enclosed track chain or X-type rivetless?
Posted by: motometal
correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't "powder coating" just the method of apply the paint? So isn't it true that there are many different types of powder that could be used?
I feel like we may be generalizing a bit here but not sure.
I have heard reports of powder coated dirt bike frames chipping like crazy, and others are quite durable...
Posted by: Jon K.
Jay; I'm not sure about the terms, the track is a sort of channel that hangs with the opening facing down. The chain has a bunch of little wheels that roll in the channel. There are lots of rivets, so probably not an X-type.
Motometal; we get our paint (powder) from Sherwin Williams. I have never needed to know the type or composition. When we get a good cure (enough heat for enough time) the finished product is very durable. I have painted several of my motorcycle frames with it, and it is just about the best stuff on earth. If we don't get a good cure, the finish is delicate, and will chip and flake off when bolts are tightened. Perhaps the bad experiences out there have to do with cure quality.
Jon
Posted by: Jaybird
Jon,
What you have is an enclosed track monorail. There are four manufacturers of this type of conveyor system, and my family is one of them. Richards Wilcox, JBWebb, and Rapid Industries are the American mfg's and Allied is a Canadian group. My family owns Rapid.
There is an alternative to lengthening your conveyor and going to a bigger oven. Power & Free type conveyor uses the same track as you have, but with an added set of channels below that contain a carrier for the parts to hang on. This carrier can be moved or stopped for any given length of time, while the power chain above continues to run. This allows accumulation of parts in one area, while the other parts can remain in transit. This means that if you need more cure time, simply set the controls to keep the part in the oven longer.
It takes some doing to refurbish a monorail into a power & free, but it sure can be done. For less than a new system too.
If you have a sketch of your system (hand sketch is fine) and a write up of what you want to accomplish, I would be glad to consult. It's one of the things I do.
(No spam..this is a freebie offer for a DRN brother) 
Posted by: Jon K.
Jay;
Thank you for the offer, but the owner of our company jumped in the middle of all this, and contracted the system.
Ever heard of Alabama Oven and Washer?
They are running the show for our upgrade.
I sure hope they are good people!
Jon
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