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Posted by: stugray Feb 5 2017, 07:05 PM

I wanted to powder coat the engine tins myself but some of the pieces are pretty large.
And I wanted to be able to do my steelies as well.

So I had a 48"X30"X30" gang box in my backyard taking up space.

I bought a old working electric oven from a local scrapyard for $10 and it worked.
Pulled the guts out of it for the demonstration.

First I built a "core skeleton" to hold the inner box and the coils:


It's useable space will be 18" X 18" X 36".
Then I lined it with aluminum foil and 2X layers of R13 fiberglass with the paper removed.



Then I finished out the box and installed the coils:



Finally I made a hollow metal box for a lid and packed it with more fiberglass and finished:



It works for a couple of first runs, but the heating is way too extreme when the coils turn full on.
I expected this behavior because the oven has almost zero thermal mass inside the oven cavity.
So I will install a thermal shield over the coils out of steel plate (like 3/8" or so).
That should slow the response time of the oven and give a much more control-able temp.

I also ordered some 240V Solid State relays.
I'll stick a raspberry pi to it with a temp sensor and allow it to control the coils with wifi access and control.
I also have a temp datalogging capability I will incorporate.

I will post some pics of doing my engine tins. They are stripped ready for me to decide what color I want to do them in.
I have stock-like Matte Black, Semi-Gloss Black.
I also have clearcoat, and "Black Chrome" which is really just a smoky, highgloss clearcoat.

So I am considering putting that or clear over the stripped clean metal engine tins.
I like the look of the bare metal scrubbed clean.
Even with the imperfections and few bits of rusty patches, it looks kind of "steam-punk" and I might go with it.
I'll post some pics of the tins soon.

Posted by: ConeDodger Feb 5 2017, 08:55 PM

Nice job! McMark also built his own oven. He left it behind when he went to Michigan. I wonder if he'll build another?

Posted by: stugray Feb 5 2017, 11:18 PM

Here are the engine tins:






The rear one is the only one that has had a final prep.

So what does everyone think of just giving these main tins basically a clear coat to keep that raw look?

And for the careful observers, yes my tins have been modified.
1 - I have an access hole to allow me to get to spark plug#3 for a CHT probe
2 - I have cutouts on each side of the engine to clear my suspension pickup point supports

Posted by: McMark Feb 6 2017, 07:22 AM

Love the suspension cutouts.

No it's here.

Wood framing, mineralwool insulation. And I've had it beyond 700-degress (by accident) without issue, though I do not recommend it.

I used a couple controller modules and 220v relays off eBay to add temp control and power timer.

But I'm thinking about selling it since blasting and applying powder takes quite a long time and for me I'm not sure the cost-benefit works out the right way.

Posted by: brant Feb 6 2017, 09:18 AM

Very nice!

Did you chemically strip the pieces?
Good job. Nice build

Posted by: stugray Feb 6 2017, 09:29 AM

I stripped the pieces with Zep purple degreaser at high concentration.
Soaking each piece for a few hours with a heater in the tank stripped almost all of the original paint.
Final prep was a wire wheel on a 4" grinder or green scrub pads.

How do you think the tins will look with the bare metal and clear coat?
I thought it would brighten up the engine bay a little more than the boring black.

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Feb 6 2017, 09:36 AM

Did a search...you've been working on this project awhile!

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=145830&hl=chrome+tins

I saw some chrome tins once, did not look good in my opinion. See the thread for some great painted solutions.

Posted by: stugray Feb 6 2017, 10:00 AM

I had forgotten about that thread.
Back then I used rattle can paint and found that it just wiped right off if it got gasoline on the tins.
Now that I had the engine out again I decided to do it right this time.

Posted by: matthepcat Feb 6 2017, 10:05 AM

What about color matched to the paint job?

Posted by: stugray Feb 6 2017, 10:25 AM

Funny you mention that. I also got "Kawasaki Ninja green" powder coat.
So the thought HAD crossed my mind.

Posted by: McMark Feb 6 2017, 01:01 PM

Too matchy-match for me. Plus engine's are dirty places. If you coat it green, you better love spending time cleaning, or not be OCD.

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Feb 6 2017, 04:16 PM

The quality and durability of a paint coating application is not only the quality of material but also priming and surface preparation. Prolly don't need to tell you that.

An $8 rattle can paint job is in no way comparable to a high quality application using quality materials and workmanship. I have seen powder coatings fail too. Must check all the boxes to get it right.

Posted by: brant Feb 6 2017, 07:05 PM

It might look very cool
I would hold the on the motor or engine bay and view first.
But I like the idea

I have a bare motor in the middle of my garage if you need as a point of reference