Removing powder coating
Submitted: Sunday, Apr 28, 2019 at 22:43
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Keith B2
I have some aircon mounting brackets that need some welding on them, so I have to remove the powder coating for welding and subsequent galvanisinig.
Does anyone have any idea of what is the quickest and easiest way to remove powder coating from steel? Do paint strippers work?
Thanks in advance.
Keith
Reply By: Ron N - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 00:17
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 00:17
Keith - Sandblasting is about the only successful method, powdercoating is an exceptionally durable coating.
Cheers, Ron.
AnswerID:
625214
Reply By: GarryR - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 06:29
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 06:29
Yep as Ron N stated, sand blasting is your best option, but be prepared to pay through the nose, as they do not like sand blasting previous coated powder coating. The company I have worked for in the past has had many items sand blasted that were previous powder coated for the shire council. We found it cheaper to purchase or make new items and supply to the shire, than to blast and re powder coat. The sand blasting causes heat, and the powder coating turns soft and gluee, hence difficult to remove, but achievable. I would look into the cost of purchasing new brackets before removing , grinding, welding, sandblasting and then galvanising and reinstalling. Hope this info is of some value to you
AnswerID:
625215
Reply By: Malcom M - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 07:22
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 07:22
Can you take the brackets off?
you should be able to burn the coating off the brackets.
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625217
Reply By: Member -Pinko (NSW) - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 08:08
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 08:08
Hi Keith B2
A Flexovit stripping disc for an angle grinder will remove the powder coating and not remove metal. Did a whole bullbar for a repaint
AnswerID:
625218
Reply By: Keith B2 - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 08:37
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 08:37
Many thanks everyone.
The brackets are a proprietary thing and come powder coated. They are holding an aircon unit onto the back of my caravan build and have a bit of slop in the joint, which needs to be got rid of.
Keith
AnswerID:
625219
Follow Up By: Member - peter_mcc - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 10:50
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 10:50
They look like fairly standard A/C brackets - have you tried Actrol or Heatcraft to see if you can get new/stronger ones?
FollowupID:
898843
Follow Up By: Keith B2 - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 11:52
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 11:52
Peter, these are standard Bunnings ones rated at 350Kg and my unit weighs only 30Kg. The problem is that there is a little bit if upward movement in the cantilevered part of the bracket, which will cause the thing to fail as it wobbles about. So it needs to be welded up.
The fixings are already embedded with epoxy into the composite bodywork, So I have no choice but to stick with what I have.
Many thanks.
Keith
FollowupID:
898848
Follow Up By: Hoyks - Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 at 12:11
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 at 12:11
If you can take it off to get it welded/galvanised, then you could use it as a template to make a new one and pick up the fastener holes. The bolt pattern looks symmetrical, so clamping it back to back with a new bracket and using it as a drilling guide would work.
It would probably be cheaper to get a beefier one made from galvanised angle than to get this one stripped, welded and galvanised.
FollowupID:
898899
Follow Up By: Keith B2 - Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 at 12:27
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 at 12:27
Hoyks, I'll be galvanising the drawbar extension at the same time so will avoid the dreaded "minimum cost" of $160. Thanks anyway.
Keith
FollowupID:
898900
Reply By: Ron N - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 10:06
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 10:06
Auschem state they have a coating stripper specifically formulated to remove powder coating. It's called Classique Strip PCD.
Be aware this stuff is potent, it's a product designed for industrial use, and it needs a passivator applied to the metal after stripping.
Auschem - Chemical paint stripping
Powdercoat is essentially a form of plasticised paint, it's paint in a polyester resin form which contains fine metal particles, that are attracted to the metal article being powder coated, by a magnetic field.
So you need a chemical specifically designed to dissolve that polyester resin formulation.
The Classique Strip PCD is a 2-pack epoxy mix with a short life after mixing.
Cheers, Ron.
AnswerID:
625222
Reply By: bellony - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 22:47
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 22:47
Spent many years tig welding powder coated race car chassis. Method used was to burn powder coating off area to be welded with an oxy/hot flame, wire brush what remains or if the powder coater had done a good job some times a light sand was required, clean with solvent, do welding repairs, get paid.
Do you really need to galvanise after the repair? Why not just touch up the paint?
AnswerID:
625247
Follow Up By: Keith B2 - Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 23:16
Monday, Apr 29, 2019 at 23:16
As
well as bolting, the brackets will be Sikaflexed on. So I thought galvanising would be good.
Keith
FollowupID:
898881
Follow Up By: Ron N - Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 at 00:55
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 at 00:55
Galvanising is exceptionally durable, and pretty reasonably priced.
It's particularly good for rear-mounted items that cop a lot of mud, gravel and red dust - which coupled with salt-laden moisture from sea air, or salty ground areas, leads to rapid corrosion with many other supposedly protective coatings.
Cheers, Ron.
FollowupID:
898884