Industrial and Automotive Finishing Blog

Col-Met on American Chopper - Season 6 Episode 3

Here at Col-Met we noticed on our web site and blog that something was missing.  A significant event in Col-Met's history had not been featured.  That event was the guys at Orange County Choppers (OCC) building a custom bike for Col-Met.  In return, Col-Met supplied OCC with a custom automotive spray booth.

(The Col-Met Chopper featured on the Orange County Choppers Website)

An article by SSG about the episode on American Chopper:

"One of the client stories that took place last quarter was a trip to Orange County Choppers (OCC).  COL-MET Spray Booths, the industry’s leading manufacturer of paint finishing equipment, built and installed a spray booth in the new OCC Newburgh HQ facility.  SSG has been working with COL-MET over the past several months on an ERP implementation, and we were thrilled to be invited to attend the filming of an upcoming episode featuring COL-MET.  In the show, planned to be broadcast in March, you will see the unveiling of the COL-MET Spray Booth, as well as see Eric Jones (President & CEO of COL-MET) receive the COL-MET Chopper!  It was a lot of fun, and a ton of snow, last month in NY.  Look for the episode to be broadcast sometime in March."

You can view the episode of American Chopper featuring Col-Met & DECA on Netflix here:

American Chopper - Season 6 Episode 3

All you need is a Netflix account and you'll be all set for instant streaming of the full episode.

Episode Summary: Sr. is having some work done on the shop and in return he's building bikes for the contracted companies, DECA and Col-Met.  Everyone at OCC is trying to adjust to life in the shop with out Paul Jr.

Check back on this blog entry for updated images of the show!

Operation New Dawn Presented To Col-Met Spray Booths

Col-Met appreciates the service and sacrifice of all branches of the military as they secure our borders and protect our interests worldwide. The recent presentation of the “Mission Flag” from Operation New Dawn was received with great pride and can be viewed in our lobby for all Col-Met visitors to enjoy.

As tradition has it, the “Mission Flag” is exclusive to a select few only. In order to receive mission flag status, the commanding officer of the mission must carry and display this flag as his unit’s flag for the mission. The flag that we were presented was supported in a combat night mission by select troops, of the 1-171st Battalion, A Company, specifically the flight crew of the Company Commander, CPT Stephen Boda.

These men flew for over 8 hours that evening serving our country in a war zone carrying out the mission they were tasked to perform. The mission of course was not disclosed for obvious reasons but it is considered an honor and a privilege for the recipient.

The 1-171st Battalion served 12 months in Iraq and were the last American Troops to serve in Taji, Iraq, They returned to Atlanta after 12 months of service on November 23rd, 2011.

Choosing a Batch Oven That Matches Your Needs and Process

Choosing a batch oven is not too difficult when you know what questions to ask about the equipment and your process.  The batch oven is the key component to finishing and rounding out your powder coating process.  There have been many times that I have visited a custom powder coater with a taste of buyers remorse because they did not purchase a large enough oven.  When considering a purchase of a batch oven it is very important to plan and consider your long term goals and capabilities. Size certainly has a significant impact on cost and it will also determine your overall abilities for coating larger part sizes.  The following are some questions to consider and focus your search for the right type of oven for your application. 

• What are the temperature requirements

Most batch ovens are designed supply temperatures of up to 500 degrees and some even higher.  Different part geometry can require different air flow patterns.  Choices include:

Horizontal/Vertical Airflow - often found in ovens with larger parts

Vertical Airflow - typical application for parts hung from racks or hooks

Full Horizontal Airflow - suitable for most parts

• Temperature uniformity

It is important to have consistent temperature throughout the oven as the oven will typically be fully loaded for each run or batch.  The oven controls can have a significant impact on the oven's performance in this area.  Knowing your temperature uniformity requirements helps with oven selection.

• What size oven do I need?

It is important to consider the following:

What is the largest part that you coat?

What is the spacing required between multiple parts and the ductwork?

The quantities of parts to be processed in a single batch?

Material Handling (room to safely move parts in and out safely)

• Materials of construction
  

Proper oven construction will help prevent heat loss. increase efficiency and facilitate cleaning and service.  Materials typically used is aluminized steel panels and sometimes stainless steel.  Insulated oven panels offer increased operation effficiency, lower operating costs, and improved temperature uniformity with in the work area.  Working with a qualified oven supplier to address all of your plants specific considerations effectively.

 

 

 

 

Safer Automotive Spray Booth Finishing

 

Automotive Spray Booths provide an ideal environment for a class A finish but safety is always the top priority!  Every year, many businesses suffer fire losses due to improper setup, cleaning or maintenance of their spray booth operations involving flammable liquids or materials.  Use the following guidelines to help protect your business from preventable fire damage. 

 

Spray booth maintenance

• Protect sprinkler heads

Sprinkler heads in spray booths need covers, either
lightweight paper or plastic bags for protection from
overspray. Without these controls, sprinklers may not
work reliably in the event of a fire. If the sprinkler head
has been painted, it must be replaced.

• Maintaining clean filters

Monitor filters constantly so you’ll know when they
need to be changed. Consider installing a filter gauge
that will automatically shut down the spray gun when
the filter fails to allow a minimum amount of air to
pass through.

• When to clean ventilation ducts

Rule of thumb: It’s time to clean the ventilation ducts
and duct discharge points when residue accumulates
to a thickness of 1/8 inch. At that point, shut down the
operation until the cleaning is complete.

• Frequent interior cleaning

All surfaces in the booth should be kept free of
combustibles and overspray as much as possible.
Clean the surfaces weekly, or as needed. To simplify
the cleaning of accumulated overspray, put strippable
materials on the interior walls.

Safety precautions

• Safe containers for flammable waste

Rags or other waste materials that are soaked with
finishing or other flammable materials should be put
only in self-closing metal waste containers that are
approved by a reputable laboratory. Those containers
should be emptied daily.

• Use non-sparking tools

When possible, tools and devices used to clean and
maintain the spray booth should be made of non sparking
materials like brass and plastic.

• Mixing combustible coatings

If you’re using more than one type of combustible
coating in the same booth, keep in mind that some
coatings, when mixed, can spontaneously ignite. Clean
the booth and exhaust ducts of overspray and deposits
before you change combustible coatings.

• Use cleaning solvents with high flash points

Cleaning solvents should have flash points of no lower
than 100°F. To reduce the potential for fires, cleaning
solvents should be stored in safety cans.

• No smoking

Clearly readable “No Smoking” signs should be posted
near all spray booths, solvent or coating storage areas,
and any other painting operations.

• Give booths enough space

Spray booths should be placed a minimum of three (3)
feet away from combustible walls, storage areas
and other booths. That will help prevent a fire from
spreading into a spray booth, or spreading from the
spray booth outward.

Spray Booth Safety Features

A) Fire suppression system or sprinklers should be
placed in the spray area, behind the filter and in the
duct, with control valves open and locked.
B) Solvent rag waste can with self-closing lid
(UL/FM approved).
C) Small access door to allow cleaning of ducts.
Door should have fitted gaskets to provide a tight
vapor seal.
D) Floor area is smooth, noncombustible and waterproof.
E) Smooth, easily-cleaned interior walls.
F) Removable filters that are non-combustible. Filters
need to be disposed of properly.

Col-Met Exhibiting in 3 Trade Shows the First Week of October

Col-Met Spray Booths will be exhibiting in three different trade shows the first week of October!  This busy week will start in New Orleans working the ATPA Public Transportation Expo (public transportation's premier showcase). This show runs from the 3rd to the 5th at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center.  The next stop is Cincinnati October 4th thru the 6th for the NAI Coating Show at the Duke Energy Convention Center.  This show features a variety of presentations by key representatives from the liquid and powder coating industry.  Click on the the button below to get your complimentary exhibitor guest pass!  This show is sponsored by both the Powder Coatings Institute and NACE International. 

 

Finally we will head South to Orlando, Florida for The annual NACE Show October 6 thru the 8th. Nace has historically been a key trade show destination for the automotive refinish market and its suppliers.

 

 

 

 

THE COL-MET "TEAM" - Together Everyone Achieves More

 

The concept of TEAM (together everyone achieves more) had been literally practiced for centuries.  From the ancient Greek Spartans  holding off the attacking hordes at Thermopylae with their disciplined military precision to the Super Bowl Champion 2011 Green Bay Packers.  The Col-Met Team is focused on continuous improvement and increasing product value.   Team is defined as: "A number of persons associated together in work or activity".  This simple approach to business has always proven successful  for us at Col-Met Spray Booths.

Our sales team works with our distribution network to to identify opportunities to sell our products in a variety of markets and industries.  Together we are able to identify the customer's need(s) and supply him the best finishing solution. The process continues as the product order moves through our engineering team and finally out to the shop floor and into production. The end result being crated for shipment or assembled and shipped depending on the type of product. From start to finish, the goal is the same...supplying quality products through quality partners to industry!  So what do you say we build a booth! 

Spray Booth Considerations

In the market for a new spray booth?

Some things to consider... 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Chapter 33, defines a spray booth as:

"A power ventilated enclosure for a spray operation process that confines and limits the escape of the material being sprayed, including vapors, mists, dusts and residues that are produced by the spaying operation and conducts or directs these materials to an exhaust system."

Before deciding on the size and airflow configuration of a paint spray booth, you should first consider: the size of the parts to be painted, the finish that is required, the coatings to be applied and the application system to be used.  enclosing the booth should also be factored into the equation when considering your budget.  Available floor space should also be taken into consideration when choosing your booth type.

Spray Booth Placement

The egress code requires a minimum 3-ft. clearance on any side of the booth requiring personnel access (NFPA 101-Life Safety Code).  As a general rule, the interior size of the paint booth should be large enough to allow the painter access to all sides of the product to be sprayed (We recommend a minimum of 3-ft. clearance around the part).  This size rule should be considered a minimum regardless of the application system (airless, air-assisted, airless, conventional, electrostatic or HVLP).  Electrostatic and HVLP spray are typically applied at lower pressure and at a closer distance so the spray gun fan pattern can be adversely affected  by excessive air flows.

Types of Booth Placement

The expected production or volume of painting that is anticipated will effect the general layout of the finishing area more than the size and type of booth.  Correctly laid out, small and relatively inexpensive open front booths can be utilized quite effectively in high production shops.

Generally, there are four basic types of paint spray booths:

1. $ Crossdraft Booth: Air enters one end and exits the opposite end of the booth.  Note: Open Front Industrial Booths are crossflow paint booths.

2. $$ Modified Downdraft Booth: Air enters through the roof at one end and exits out the opposite end of the booth.  This is sometimes referred to as semi-downdraft as well.

3. $$$ Side-downdraft Booth: Air enters through the roof and exits both sides along the floor.

4. $$$$ Downdraft Booth: Air enters through the rear and exits through the floor - generally this style of booth utilizes a pit in the floor but can also be mounted above the ground on a basement exhaust plenum.  Downdraft booths utilize gravity as the air draft moves directly downward through the paint area and this booth is considered the most efficient booth airflow available on today's market.  This booth is also typically the most expensive.

Deciding on an enclosed or an open type booth should be an easy decision.  If the area around the booth is moderately dust free, and the paint is of a fast drying nature (i.e., lacquer), then an open front booth will suffice. If the environment around the booth is likely to contaminate the paint as it is applied, or if the coating applied is slow to dry(i.e., conventional alkyd coating), then an enclosed booth would be the correct choice.

The type of airflow selected may be determined simply by the budget available, or it may be determined by the personal preference of the painter.  Even though one airflow design may be preferred over another, a quality paint finish can be achieved in all four types of paint booths when used by a competent painter.  As for the type of coating to being applied , it really does not matter since the paint booth is only evacuating the overspray and fumes.

 

 

 

Truck Booths Are Used In A Variety of Industries And Markets

 

Truck booths have played an important part in fostering economic growth for a variety of industries for over 75 years.  Trucks booths were widely used during and prior to the second world war for painting everything from Aircraft and Military vehicles to tanks and other large weaponry components.  Truck booths continue to play a large role in the manufacture and maintenance of large parts and vehicles in an assortment of applications. The one common thread for all of truck booth applications is that size does matter! 

The standard sizing for truck booths is 16' wide 16' high with a variety of length standards.  Dimensions widely vary depending on the size of the vehicle or part that needs to be painted. Some of the markets that truck booths are found include but are not limited to:

• Transportation
• Farm Machinery
• Construction
• Aerospace
• Oil and Gas
• Rail
• Utilities - Windpower
• Vehicle Maintenance

There are also a variety of airflow or draft classification options available when choosing your truck booth.

1. Crossdraft: this is the most frequently sold booth.  Intake air enters through the front and is drawn through the booth and exhausted through a filter system at the opposite end.
2.  Modified or Semi-Downdraft: Intake air is introduced through the ceiling in the first 35-30% of the booth length and is exhausted in the rear as is the case in a normal crossdraft.
3. Side Downdraft: Intake air enters through the a filtered ceiling and exits through floor level exhaust filters on both sides of the booth.
4. Pit Downdraft: Intake air enters through a filtered ceiling the air is drawn down around the application to a filtered pit exhaust system in the floor underneath the booth.

Truck booths are available in pressurized, non-pressurized, solid back, drive through and reverse flow reverse flow designs.

 

 

Top Five Benefits For Purchasing A Col-Met Powder Coating Collector

 

A Col-Met Powder Coating Collector is a terrific addition to any powder coating line.  A variety of features will enhance your operation and improve both finish quality and performance.  Features include:

• Factory-assembled mild steel construction - powder coated white
• Spark-proof construction plug type fan
• Timer activated pulse valves and solenoids
• One piece cartridge type primary filters
• HEPA type final filters 24"X24"x12"
• Removable powder drawer
• Optional fluidized bed available
• Filter proving safeguard switch and solenoid valve included
• Control panel and VFD included

The purge control feature assures the safe operation of the coatings  enclosure by maintaining the airflow at design levels.  During operation overspray powder accumulates on the cartridge filters.  As the cartridge filters load, airflow decreases and negative pressure rises within the air handler.  A timer activates a system of air purging valves that clear the cartridge filters of accumulated powder to insure maximum filter life.

Benefits to your powder coating operation include:

1. A simpler, cleaner and safer environment
2. The ability to recover powder
3. Containing your powder while consistenly controlling your airflow
4. VFD allows manual control of fan speed and noise levels
5. Repeatable and improved production efficiencies.

Col-Met Spray Booths supplies both liquid and powder coating spray booths, automotive, truck, and wood finishing booths, batch ovens, and a variety of finishing system components.