How to fill pitted aluminum for powder coating?

- J
- Joe Landau
  
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posted
16 years ago

Sat, Apr 1, 2006 6:45 AM

Is there a good way to fill pits (up to .150" diameter) in an aluminum
casting (a motorcycle chaincase) so that it can be powder coated? The
powder coating process subjects the part to 400 degrees F., so I think
plastic fillers would not stand up.
I imagine gas welding would do it, but I don't know that I could do it.

- H
- Harold and Susan Vordos
  
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posted
16 years ago

Sat, Apr 1, 2006 7:51 AM

Welding on the cover wouldn't be smart. You'd likely distort it to the point of being useless. Can't offer a better suggestion, but I'd vote welding out.
Harold

- R
- Rob
  
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posted
16 years ago

Sat, Apr 1, 2006 9:57 AM

Powder coating relies on the part being conductive to electrostatically attract the powder prior to baking - the powder may not stick to the surface where there are filled holes. Just a guess - I'm not an expert in this - someone else may know for sure. Are you using a different power coating method??
rob

- M
- Martin H. Eastburn
  
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posted
16 years ago

Sun, Apr 2, 2006 2:22 AM

Static electricity will stick the power on anything. I'd say bondo or such - but how does that react with heat ? - I guess well since the hoods and fenders of cars get rather hot.
But how about power coat melt hot ?
Martin Martin Eastburn @ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net NRA LOH & Endowment Member NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member
Rob wrote:

- C
- carl mciver
  
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posted
16 years ago

Sun, Apr 2, 2006 3:04 AM

| Is there a good way to fill pits (up to .150" diameter) in an aluminum | casting (a motorcycle chaincase) so that it can be powder coated? The | powder coating process subjects the part to 400 degrees F., so I think | plastic fillers would not stand up. | | I imagine gas welding would do it, but I don't know that I could do it.
Why not that aluminum brazing filler rod? Conductive too.

- J
- Joe Landau
  
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posted
16 years ago

Sun, Apr 2, 2006 7:50 AM

Joe Landau wrote in news:Xns9797E78696FE6jrlversaformcom@199.45.49.11:

I think I'll try the aluminum brazing (or maybe it's soldering) rod first. A number of people on the net have reported success. Thanks.
Joe

- J
- Joe Landau
  
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posted
16 years ago

Wed, Apr 5, 2006 5:53 AM

No, it wasn't, as a matter of fact. It was the opportunity to try a new process.
Another time I'd use the lab metal, as it's hard to get the brazing metal to build adequately. But I don't think the effort was wasted.
Joe
wrote in news:yGLXf.50017$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe7-gui.ntli.net:

How to fill pitted aluminum for powder coating?

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