Hi Michael,
I would agree, don't use the oven in your kitchen to cure powder coatings. Of
the volatiles which come off a powder coating during curing (typically a maximum
of .5% for powder coatings other than urethane-polyesters, most of which is
water) a small fraction may be low-molecular-weight polymers, and you probably
don't want to eat those, although "toxic" may be an overstatement.
I would guess that the caution against gas ovens stems from the fact that some
gas sources have trace impurities which may contribute to color change on very
light colors (primarily shades of white and beiges) which causes yellowing in
overbake situations.
For anyone who is serious about doing home powder coating, I'd suggest looking
for a dealer in used industrial equipment who may have a small convection oven
(either gas or electric) for sale. It will provide much better results than a
"still" oven at a reasonable price.
Doug
Michael Ferguson wrote:
> Just found the following...
>
> Eastwood does specify after all: "Do not use an oven used for food
> preparation or located in a living area! Do not use a gas oven."
>
> ----------
> From: "Michael Ferguson" <fergie@ntplx.net>
> To: triumphs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Home Powder Coating
> Date: Sun, Dec 10, 2000, 10:05 PM
>
> Since FT hasn't yet chimed in, I'll tell you what he told me..."Don't even
> THINK about putting a PC oven in your basement!" (or words to that effect.)
> Eastwood doesn't come right out and say that, but they do say...
>
> Ventilation.
> "Set up work area to allow for good ventilation."
>
> Oven.
> "You must have access to an electric oven or toaster oven other than the one
> used for food, as mildly toxic fumes are liberated from the powder while
> curing."
>
> Michael Ferguson
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