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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Mark Thomas on May 12, 2012, 06:16:18 pm

Title: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: Mark Thomas on May 12, 2012, 06:16:18 pm
Hey folks I'm currently sanding down an old cabinet I'm working on. Once im all done I wanted to get a company to powdercoat it and get a really nice professional looking finish. Has anyone else here powder coated a wooden
Cabinet? And if so how did it come out?

Many thanks looking forward to hearing back from
You all.
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: jennifer on May 12, 2012, 06:41:17 pm

     Powder Coating wont work on wood, Its adhered the the surface [metal] with a positive/neg charge then baked.
There are a few other options available however, Paint being the most common.  Vinyl, a nice replaceable surface [sega did this], but over time time,
heat/cold contractions will loosen the edges.... And laminate, this on requires some foresite in the fact your T mouldings may not cover the edge if
you dont allow for the thickness, and its kind of spendy to do it right/nice.... Jennifer likes the paint method [spray, automotive] best.
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: ark_ader on May 12, 2012, 06:50:23 pm

     Powder Coating wont work on wood, Its adhered the the surface [metal] with a positive/neg charge then baked.
There are a few other options available however, Paint being the most common.  Vinyl, a nice replaceable surface [sega did this], but over time time,
heat/cold contractions will loosen the edges.... And laminate, this on requires some foresite in the fact your T mouldings may not cover the edge if
you dont allow for the thickness, and its kind of spendy to do it right/nice.... Jennifer likes the paint method [spray, automotive] best.

We have a furniture restorer/finisher that does what I think you are after.  He sprays thin emulsion on wood several times that it looks powder coated (as a comparison). 

He did our dining table and chairs and they look totally cool, nice and smooth, brilliant white.  Good idea on the arcade cab.  I might go that route with the weecade #3

Looks a bit like this but thicker.

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGD-bwZKEiZ8-PtOJa6Z_-SS8OLuZzwF_2PbpO5ozqn89AuonUtUKBUgFh_g)
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: Mark Thomas on May 12, 2012, 07:06:12 pm
Thank you i wasn't aware you couldn't powder coat wood so I think the spray option sounds the best. I'm just after a nice jet black colour so it looks like a new cab again. How did you find the finish came out Jennifer and is there any special kind of preparation I need to do prior to getting it sprayed? So far I'm just sanding down with some paper.
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: jennifer on May 12, 2012, 09:34:46 pm
    I prefer stripper, thinner to neutralize, then a fine paper to clean it up.This way your not sanding waves across the surface.[ Or use a long block ]
A sealer, fix dings with bondo [?] spray a good sealer, Making sure that it compatable with the paint youll be using.... Most games that were black
were a flat/semi flat , gloss will show imperfections and always look dirty.
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: GregD on May 12, 2012, 10:07:59 pm
You can powdercoat wood.   I just read a few websites about it.   I wasn't aware that you could.
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: jennifer on May 13, 2012, 12:55:36 pm

       That is interesting, Seems the moisture content on mdf will conduct the charge....
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: Mark Thomas on May 13, 2012, 01:30:52 pm
So you can powder coat? I'm based on UK and got a reply from a powder coat company that i had emailed the other day basically saying that they can't do wood. Have you got some company links GregD?
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: Franco B on May 13, 2012, 02:55:15 pm
If I was to build another cab I would definitely use laminate for a hard wearing pro finish.

If it is something you would consider then there is some info in [this (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=82995.0)] thread which may be of use to you along with some UK suppliers.
Title: Re: Can you powdercoat a wooden arcade cabinet?
Post by: Mark Thomas on May 13, 2012, 06:03:46 pm
Thanks for that info FancoB I would definitely laminate if the cab wasn't such an awkward shape. Once this cab is done I do have plans for an Xbox can so I will consider this option as I do think they look great when laminated by someone who knows what they are doing.

Iv heard back from another company who I had emailed they also stated that they can not powdercoat wood but said they could use 2 pack paint.

When I asked what this was they replied:

2 pack is car paint which give a good finish hard, this but  a long job as needs primer and wet flatin a few times to get a good finish. The wood keeps soaking in the paint in so a few coats are needed.

Have any of you guys used this stuff? It sounds very promising.