How to Stay Safe When Powder Coating
Powder coating is a relatively safe procedure compared to most jobs done in a work shop. The powder as-sprayed has zero VOC’s and doesn’t require many tools. Regardless there are some safety precautions to keep in mind when getting into powder coating at home. Read below for our top Powder Coating Safety Tips.
- High Temperature Operation- The powder coating process requires you to heat up the part being coated to a very high temperature (over 300F degrees normally). We suggest having a heavy set of gloves on hand to handle hot parts. Also because you’re normally placing parts into a hot oven you want gloves to protect yourself from the heating elements in the oven. A set of arc welding gloves or heavy work gloves would work well.
- Electrical Shock- Powder coating works by grounding the part you’re coating and shooting powder that is charged with an electrical current out of the gun. This electrostatic charge flows the powder to the grounded part and makes it stick. Much like welding though; if you have a poor ground on the part you could end up completing the circuit and electrocute yourself. We suggest making sure that ground connections are on bare metal on the part being coated or in contact with bare metal that is grounded. Poor powder attraction and the threat of electrocution are the biggest problems with poor grounds when powder coating.
- Chemical Exposure- While Powder itself isn’t harmful to your skin you may use chemicals during the cleaning process that could be. Products like fast etch and after blast have acid in them that etches the parts and promotes adhesion. While this is great for the powder it can burn your skin if left on. We suggest wearing rubber gloves and long sleeves when cleaning parts with chemicals.
- Fumes- While powder itself doesn’t have put off fumes when being sprayed it can put out some fumes when baking and curing the powder or also when pre-baking the part to outgas contaminates in the pores of the metal. We suggest baking your powder in a well ventilated room or having a fan on that can direct fumes outside to avoid prolonged exposure to any chemicals put off when parts are being heated.
Those are the major safety concerns when powder coating and are fairly easy to adhere to. Other than the normal workplace safety gear you should be good to go when powder coating at home. Find all of our powder coating guns, ovens, and supplies HERE. You can also watch out full-length Beginners Guide To Powder Coating HERE.