I built one using a cheap gun locker from Academy ($80). The heating element is a BBQ starter element from Amazon, has a thermostat like an electric skillet. Lined the inside with an insulation from amazon called turbo wrap.
it has a heavy foil on one side and a short wool insulation on the other. Mfg claims it is good to 1500 Deg. It has held up well. Takes about an hour but it will hit 400 deg. I thought about a fan but it is not necessary. I have mine sitting on an elevated furniture dolly, wheel it outside when i'm ready to spray. I like to preheat my parts to about 100 deg and then let them cool just a bit before I coat.
I have been using Cerakote and KG Gunkote. By the way ...KG has a color that duplicates gun bluing so well it is almost impossible to tell the difference.
Yup... that’s pretty much everything I did & used, LOL! Except my Ceramic wool is WAY overkill. It’s insulated to 2300f! But my mind is geared for building Heat Treating ovens for custom Knives like I make. Ovens that will heat to 2100F+. So this was really easy to do.
Yes, I’ve looked through the bulk of colors. I’m spraying the Barreled Action in Armor Black. The Chassis I’m spraying either Tactical Gray or Tungsten. I’m leaning towards Tungsten.
This is an amazing thread. I have been wondering if doing this at home was really possible. Well, here's my answer. When I get my shop set up on our land I am so doing this!
Tolerance is the death of civilization.
Many before me have been doing this on a DIY basis for a LONG time. So I already knew it was. Just wasn’t sure of cost. Honestly, I have not spent a ton of money. I made my own sand blast cabinet. The blast gun was only like $25. Same for the HVLP gravity paint gun. Cheap 8gal compressor. It was more just good American “know how” with building the oven.
In case anyone else wants to build their own oven.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is alive and well.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks