Ovens are a vital component in the Powder Coating process. The important question to consider is, what oven is right for you?
Consider the following before you buy:
- When trying to decide on whether or not to use gas or electric for industrial sized ovens, there are times when the choice is made for you, as is the case when a gas line is not available to tap in to.
- When you have the choice, keep in mind how much power will cost to run the equipment. Gas ovens are very popular because large electric ovens can be quite expensive to run every day, where gas is comparatively inexpensive (depending on your location). Larger ovens are traditionally more costly to run, so if you don't require the extra size or plan to scale up in the futue, don't buy more than you need.
- Whether you choose an electric or gas curing oven, you want to make sure the oven has circulation.
- For the hobbyist, very small ovens (like toaster ovens) are less of a concern because there is less space to heat.
Many hobbyist powder coaters are tempted to use a household oven to cure their projects because they are easy to find and can be found cheap.
Unless it is a true convection type oven, the heat will not circulate evenly and this can cause complications when curing. When the heat is unevenly disbursed throughout the oven, one area may reach temperature before another area of the same part which can be detrimental to the finish.