charlz
Elite Member
If the powdercoater is in the area it might not hurt to just run by with the grapple once you are done with all the welding and get a quote.
Nice work so far!
Everything Attachments Wicked Grapple Build
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If the powdercoater is in the area it might not hurt to just run by with the grapple once you are done with all the welding and get a quote.
Nice work so far!
Thanks. I was thinking I could call him and maybe email him some pictures and dimensions or I could run it by his place.
kiotiken
Veteran Member
There is too much green on the tractor now.
Man, you're not kidding. Usually green is afraid of orange, you must have a different shade
SPIKER
Elite Member
Rodger:
couple items on Powder Coating (I built the equipment and powder coated items myself for years.)
It is REALLY GOOD when done properly. that means Cleaning the metal well & removing all mill slag/scale/rust/weld coatings. It also means if not sandblasting all the scale off to bare steel it will not bite very well. If it is flat & bar stock that does not have mill scale on it then it needs to be phosphate coated/acid etched or sand blasted just the same.
The BASE METAL then has to be heated up for the powder to stick and melt together properly. On you thicker plates of metal that means Baking it in the oven first to bring the base metal up in temp pulling it out powder coating it and putting it back into the oven for (based on powder) recommended time.
It will still wear and chip like paint so I suggest a standard color that is available in spray can form for touch-ups later. The Phosphate coating when done correctly will protect base steel for a good amount of time even when the top coat gets scratched off.
The Shape of the grapple will cause some issues powder coating it as well as the Electrically Charged Powder does not get into small corners/cracks and junction points where 2 parts are welded together. Spray Painting in general will have similar issues where paint sticks to the angles but not well in the crack/corner where 3 parts come together.
I suggest welding all way around both sides of all the bits so there are no small gaps or holes even capping the sq tube ends so that inside can't rust much. Sand Blast it down to bare metal, use GOOD etching/Phosphoric Acid and a zinc etching primer then top coat with a catalyzed enamel in a BRIGHT ORANGE (Color) mainly for visibility so you can easily see the edged / corners when working it.
Mark
couple items on Powder Coating (I built the equipment and powder coated items myself for years.)
It is REALLY GOOD when done properly. that means Cleaning the metal well & removing all mill slag/scale/rust/weld coatings. It also means if not sandblasting all the scale off to bare steel it will not bite very well. If it is flat & bar stock that does not have mill scale on it then it needs to be phosphate coated/acid etched or sand blasted just the same.
The BASE METAL then has to be heated up for the powder to stick and melt together properly. On you thicker plates of metal that means Baking it in the oven first to bring the base metal up in temp pulling it out powder coating it and putting it back into the oven for (based on powder) recommended time.
It will still wear and chip like paint so I suggest a standard color that is available in spray can form for touch-ups later. The Phosphate coating when done correctly will protect base steel for a good amount of time even when the top coat gets scratched off.
The Shape of the grapple will cause some issues powder coating it as well as the Electrically Charged Powder does not get into small corners/cracks and junction points where 2 parts are welded together. Spray Painting in general will have similar issues where paint sticks to the angles but not well in the crack/corner where 3 parts come together.
I suggest welding all way around both sides of all the bits so there are no small gaps or holes even capping the sq tube ends so that inside can't rust much. Sand Blast it down to bare metal, use GOOD etching/Phosphoric Acid and a zinc etching primer then top coat with a catalyzed enamel in a BRIGHT ORANGE (Color) mainly for visibility so you can easily see the edged / corners when working it.
Mark
Dr Dave
Platinum Member
Nice welds, this looks like a quality kit, I would be interested in a grapple kit, to add on to an existing bucket.
Dave
Dave
Renze
Elite Member
Problem with powder coating is that you cant touch up when you scratch it. Normal wet paint systems dont stick to powdercoat.
murphy1244
Super Star Member
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If the job is done right, it won't scratch at all.
slicktierney
Member
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Awesome grapple design (EA) and Great assembly job Roger! Stick with the enamel paint, the powder coating will get damaged by rocks and then will peel off in sheets like my snow plow. You might consider bandsaw cuts on the tubing ends to vent/drain the tubing so it won't rot from the inside.
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