Last weekend I bought a powder coat system from Harbor Freight for $60. I found a used electric oven at the flea market that I talked the owner down to $25
I spent my "shop time" last weekend wiring in the oven, setting up my new air compressor, and finishing a bead forming tool so I did not get to test it.
About mid week I got to play with it but no serious time at all. I sprayed a fender washer and a small piece of thin aluminum plate.
So today I decided to go all out and try to do my AE wheels knowing this would be a huge step. I don't have enough sense not to try things like this so it was a pretty normal day around here

My oven was just big enough to get a 16" wheel in. THe next problem to solve was a good way to blast the wheels since they were too large to put in my blast cabinet. My cabinet is fairly big but not that big
So I pulled my blast gun out of the cabinet and got a 5 gallon bucket of angular glass bead. I would have been a lot better off with either a larger grit or using aluminum oxide grit. The blasting was a bitch. Too slow.

I used a 30 gal trashcan and put the 5 gal bucket of bead in the bottom of it. I then set the wheel down in the trashcan and I needed something to help deflect as much of the bead as possible back into the can instead of all over the driveway. So I set a tire on top of the trashcan.
I put the pickup tube through the cap hole in the wheel and into the 5 gal bucket below.
Of course the beads were still making there way out but I like to think that the tire was helping
If there is a "next time" on wheels I will get a piece of plexiglass and cut a hole large enough to get my gloved hand into and the plex/gls would just kind of ride the top of the trashcan while I moved it around.
There was way too much lost glass to clean up afterwards
If you follow the directions that come with the powder coat system it will give you the basic concept but this is like reading a book on how to weld or solder; nothing substitutes for actual hands on experience.
After getting the wheels prepped I was ready to try my hand. The cool thing is that you can blow the powder off if/WHEN you mess up as long as you don't cook it first.
Coating into the crevices on holes was just a bitch. I usually pick up on things pretty quick but this was an all day event. All day including taking the wheels to the tire store to get the old tires removed and waiting involved there and going back after I was finished to put them on.
I would guess in actual work time there was a little under 4 hours. Once you can get a good system for prepping the wheels and getting a feel for the powder equipment to put a good even coat within the required depth of the powder and flowed into the crevices WITHOUT building too much in other areas then you can say you have arrived.
The wheels turned out good but they are not perfect when you get close. That is disappointing but they still look very nice.

So I am attaching some highlight pics of what I did. Keep in mind that I am a long way from calling myself a powder coater so please be gentle in the critizism Hey I did the best I could do.... at least for now

 

 

 

 

 

bling bling

 

Nice Weber

 

Oh how I wish you were right! It's a DeLortto I'm pporting a REPU since I don't have to comply with the strict emmissions.
While the AE is a stock restoration the REPU and the T-bucket (winter project) will be pretty wild
Lot's of powder and polish on them I can promise you

 

I have two repu, a 74 that runs, then a 77 that is parts.
You don't like DeLorttos?
I also might be picking up one more 74 repu.
I may have to many rotors as it is. lol

 

I like Delorttos but I like Webbers more. Haha too many rotors?!?!?! Only wen my wife says there are too many My wife allows two at a time including parts cars and anything ugly has to have a cover (including me!)

 

lol..
I don't have a wife just yet, just no real place to put them all.

I have about 5 rotors.
1972 Rx2 2dr - engine less.
1976 Rx4 2dr - engine less.
1986 Rx7 - doesn't run, haven't really tryed to get it too.
1974 REPU - my driver.
1977 REPU - parts pickup.

 

Kick *** collection! You got any pics? I would have a field day with those

 

yep I have photos.
Let me get the links.
BTW, whats your net speed, cable, dsl, dail up?

 

cable

 

Ill post the links right now..

 

good work scalliwag those wheels look really nice....how much did u pick that sandblaster up for?

 

and how does that powder coat stuff work?

 

Rx4 photos, http://www.sploogy.info/kick/photos/Rx4/
Rx2 photos, http://www.sploogy.info/kick/myrx2_index.php
74 REPU photos, http://www.sploogy.info/kick/repu_index.php

I don't have any real photos of the 86 Rx7, or the 77 REPU. Here is a little bit of history about these cars though. I got the Rx2 almost a year ago for about 200 dollars. I just got the Rx4 for 200 dollars. As for the rest, I picked up the 74 REPU, 77 REPU and the 86 Rx7 for 700 all together. It was take them all or just pay 700 for the 74 REPU. So I took them all.. heh

 

good deal kick....lol i'd take them all....u know wat sux....up here in canada....i've only seen 1 REPU....at a trackday....and 1 rx3....theres none for sale....i would luv to buy an pre rx7 rotary but there amazingly hard to find

 

Any old mazda is amazingly hard to find.
I have been pretty lucky. I just found a guy that has a 74 REPU that runs good, and he also has a buddy that has a lot of rotor engine parts and a 74 parts pick for 300.

I am giving them a call to see if they still have it. Then going to try to strike up a deal

 

Here is the one I have http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42202

 

In short the power unit generates a static field that attracts the powder to the metal. When you bake it in the oven at the temp/time determined by the powder you use cure time makes the powder melt and makes a really durable finish that is tick enough to hide scratches that conventional paint does not

 

Great deals! I hope you have a little home shop to work these.

 

I also have a body man for a dad.

 

I have a lot to powder and glass beads to cleanup in the garage tomorrow I was just a little too messy and in a hurry because I had to get back to the tire shop to get the tires mounted since they are not open Sundays.
My neighbors love to watch me do this kind of stuff From a spectators point of view it must look pretty bizarre here at times