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09-05-2011, 12:21 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,256
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Powdercoat aluminum?
Lots of discussion of powdercoating steel parts...quick question: Can aluminum be powdercoated, and if so, has anyone done that?
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Steve "Flying Scotsman"
Santa Clarita, CA
PP-ASEL, ASES, Instrument Airplane
RV-7A N660WS flying!
#8,000 
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09-05-2011, 12:31 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 1,324
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying Scotsman
Lots of discussion of powdercoating steel parts...quick question: Can aluminum be powdercoated, and if so, has anyone done that?
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A very qualified yes. The problem is the effect of the heat used in the powdercoating process can be high enough to alter the strength of some aluminum. I would avoid powdercoating anything that is structural.
John Clark ATP, CFI
Aviator & Gearhead
FAAST Team Representative
EAA Flight Advisor
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
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09-05-2011, 12:32 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,428
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Of course it can. But the heat will probably affect the structural properties of the metal.
Probably not an issue for baffles but I certainly wouldn't do it to anything structural.
Dave
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09-05-2011, 12:51 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
Posts: 2,391
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powdercoating
Some shops are powdercoating instrument panels.
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09-05-2011, 01:27 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Cary, N.C.
Posts: 1,216
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I have powder coated a few of the non-structural small aluminum items. They were 1/16" thick or greater as I did not want the coating to crack if the items were allowed to flex. They also needed to be small enough to fit in the shop toaster oven. The parts have held up well, and are easy to clean.
I had a comercial shop powder coat the instrument panel as it was too big for my oven. It also turned out well and I have had no issues.
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09-05-2011, 05:42 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,785
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I powder coated a new .125" Piper panel with a low temp powder coat called "TIGER Drylac". It was non-structural, but the 300 deg. heat was a plus. The powders come in textured and smooth.
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Bill Peyton
RV-10 - 1125 hrs
N37CP
First Flight Oct 2012
Aviation Partners, LLC
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09-05-2011, 06:11 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 263
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Yes..... we have aluminum parts coated weekly. A good powdercoater will know that they can't mix steel and aluminum parts together in the oven as the curing time will differ on different metals and/or thickness differences.
If heat is still of concern, then I recommend having your aluminum parts anodized.
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Robert Kramar
Gilbert, Arizona - Vans RV-6A
- Bell 47 D-1 H-13 Sioux Army/Mash Helicopter - Fully Restored and Flying!
- Vans RV-4 (being upgraded to new panel, firewall, weldments and long gear legs)
Yearly VAF dues paid to date.
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09-05-2011, 07:36 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,256
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Thanks for the info! This will be the instrument panel, so no worriesa about structural issues.
Now, to find a reputable place here in SoCal...
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Steve "Flying Scotsman"
Santa Clarita, CA
PP-ASEL, ASES, Instrument Airplane
RV-7A N660WS flying!
#8,000
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09-06-2011, 09:31 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 2,647
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I had my modified battery mount and O2 bottle mount powder coated. I told my coater the material and concern with temper and he handled it - he has done aluminum (mostly billet) for motorcycles and custom cars. It came out strong and looking beautiful. I think an instrument panel would be an excellent candidate for powder as it would be more resistant than paint to the kind of wear you'd expect and, as I recall, they can do matte or flat finish if you want.
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Patrick Kelley - Flagstaff, AZ
RV-6A N156PK - Flying too much to paint
RV-10 14MX(reserved) - Fuselage on gear
http://www.mykitlog.com/flion/
EAA Technical Counselor #5357
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09-06-2011, 10:10 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flion
...... I think an instrument panel would be an excellent candidate for powder as it would be more resistant than paint to the kind of wear you'd expect and, as I recall, they can do matte or flat finish if you want....
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Not just matte and flat....
The Tucson powder coater I have used has a whole sample book of textures.
You could even match the leather texture in your seats, or have a nice vinyl texture like the dash on your car.
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Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
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