Ok fellas, what are your thoughts on powder coating as a method for restoring a beat up kettle?
I don't know anything about it, can it resist heat? Is it durable? I wonder if it would turn a different color?
Brian
There is such a thing as high heat powder coat....
It's expensive ( more than reg. powder) & you have to have the piece REALLY clean prior to coating, or it don't stick good, even with the baking that they do.....
You also have to get somebody that is absolutely sure of what they're doing, i.e. not a part time shop, someone who only does powder & understands what's needed
After some more research, I found A shop right in my town ( six blocks away even ) and they specialize in high heat coating (engine blocks). Unfortunately the whole kettle would have to be sand blasted and then powder coated and is in NO WAY cost affective . $200 for sand blasting and as little as $300-$400 for the powder coating possibly more, And that's not including A high heat clear coat :( oh well back to the drawing board .
Try this: Find an old kettle that isn't worth much to experiment with. Sand the exterior down real smooth, get the rust off, etc. Go online and buy a can of high heat engine paint from this website link below. This stuff is called VHT Flameproof coating. This is really good stuff. It can withstand temperatures up to 2000 degrees. They use this paint in the aerospace industry to paint jet engines. One can cost $8.98. Sand the exterior of the kettle and prep the surface. You'll probably have to buy a can of high heat primer as well. Spray it with this paint, fire it up and see what happens? If you try this, paint it some totally stupid outrageous color that nobody has ever seen. If it works, let me know. I will do the same thing myself. lol
http://www.tcpglobal.com/spraypaintdepot/engine-paint.aspx
ooh ya I'm feeling it . Hmm day glow Orange, or purple? now time to find a junk black 8)
This is high heat copper with high heat clear coat....
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/Minor%20Weber%20Modifications/Weber%20Mods%202/7-3031-2011carolynproject-fatties-elegarlic074.jpg)
You may be able to find VHT at local automotive stores,
they'll usually have at least a few colors of1600~2000° stuff
Buckie is that a powder coat?
Brian
Naw, it's just hi-heat canned spray, several coats, dried in between & heat set, then a couple coats of clear, hi-heat with heat set.....
To heat set just run coals at about 400° for 1/2 hour, spread over the coal grate evenly.....
I need to re-do this as somebody at my friends' house left it down & the dawgs got to the bone & chewed it pretty good.....