Coat It Yourself

Has this happened to you: You spend half a day cleaning and preparing a part to be painted. You strip it, grind it, sand it, or blast it. Then, after carefully laying out your homemade spray booth and checking your local weather channel for the latest wind conditions, you begin painting. You use two cans of spray paint on a single part, with most of the paint wafting away and some permanently bonding to your car's paint. Once finished, you gently pick up the wet part using only needle-nose pliers and you hang it to dry in an out-of-the-way place. The following day, you return to your part, gingerly touching a spot with your fingertip to check for wetness. Once you're sure the part is totally dry, you begin to install it. Then it happens...a slip of the wrench, a brush with another part, or the dreaded brake-fluid spill.

Now there's a better and easier way. Powdercoating is the answer, and Eastwood has the supplies you need in its new HotCoat kit to safely powdercoat your parts at home for a fraction of the cost professional shops charge for the same results. Powdercoating has long been recognized as the professional choice in the coating industry for durability, ease of application, and chemical resistance. Auto manufacturers have been using a powdercoat finish on suspension and underhood components and wheels since the early '70s, but recently the wide choice of colors and show-quality "depth" have given the restorer and customizer a new coating choice.

The new HotCoat powdercoating system can be used on any metal part small enough to fit into an electric oven (toaster ovens will work as well) that can withstand the 400-degree F (204-degree C) cure temperature without damage. Powdercoating is applied in a manner similar to spray painting. Many colors are available, including Chevy Orange and Semigloss Chassis Black. There are also finishes that resemble stamped steel, cast aluminum, and cast iron, and there is Satin Clear and Full Gloss Clear to protect and highlight natural finishes, such as billet or brushed aluminum.

The HotCoat powdercoating system should only be used in a clean, dry, well-ventilated work area. You should also have a dedicated electric oven just for powdercoating. Do not use an oven that is used for preparing food or is located in a living area of the house in order to eliminate any potential food-contamination problems. All the necessary equipment for powdercoating is included in the kit. You will need an air source, such as an air compressor or a portable air tank regulated to 5-10 psi. Detailed instructions are included in the kit to help create professional results with your system.

To demonstrate how easy this new Eastwood system is to use, we powdercoated a new cast-iron master cylinder. Add to this the $149 price tag and almost any enthusiast can benefit from the advantages of powdercoating at home.