In one of my ID classes i had to powdercoat a project. I recalled reading that Athearn powdercoated their frames and figured i'd do a spare RPP one i had. Before the frame was done it was perfectly true. After i was finished powdercoating, i saw that the frame warped just like the classic Athearn frame warp. I don't know if the answer is less time at heat or less heat, but i wonder if Athearn has corrected this yet. That SD40-2 i picked up wasn't warped but i think the frame could have been a little better... Just an observation...
<font color="336633">I have never had any experience in powder coating, although there was some done (at great cost) where i used to work for a desplay stand for a trade fair, the parts coated was 10 foot tublar steel, that 2 was warped but it was still a round tube, im not sure if it is a good process or not.... cant beat good ol' paint.. and speaking of athearn frames, id prefer it if they didnt paint them as i allways have to repaint them after i smoothed them out..</font> ------------------ Matthew wheres all the C636's???? stickymonk.com Matts Photo gallery
Tunnel88, you probably failed to anneal the frame before powder coating it. We almost always have to anneal the part, straighten to spects, or bend it, or otherwise form it before coating. The stresses induced by stamping, injection molding, machining, punching and drilling, spotwelding and the like, relax when heat is applied. If this happens when the powder coat is applied, you can damage the coating if you try to bend it straight now. We sometimes have to anneal, straighten, then heat treat some powder coated items. It depends upon the metal used and the machining performed, as to what annealing treatment is required. ------------------ Watash
That's all good and stuff, but i think it's Athearn that needs to know that! I don't plan on doing anymore powder coatings! Benjamin
You want I should advise Athearn"s Chief Engineer that he failed to do his job? I don't think it is his fault. The bean counters probably figure once you pay for the engine, you'll either live with it, or fix it, and they get to save the money. Its the same with Rivarrossi and some of the others that have turned out to be sort of the "toy" trade. Maybe it will get better now that Rivarrossi have been sold to new people. ------------------ Watash
