Powder coating and thunder storms..

[Danieldrew]

So question, anyone ever coat during a thunderstorm? I was coating and was having trouble, like a limited ground type of trouble.. Just so happens a storm was brewing up 15minutes in of having trouble coating the base (on top of a zinc primer) a huge rain/thunderstorm started, I was just wondering if this could affect my ground.. Too much static in the air? Seems logical to me but wanted to ask and see.

[Dano]

What keeps me out of the shop is the possibility of a power outage halfway through a curing cycle.
But you raise an interesting question. Looking forward to opinions.

[Crip75]

Interupting the curing cycle is not a problem Dano, just continue when the power comes back on line.

[ngodrules]

I have powder coated a few times after midnight and have noticed issues w/ my ground as well, so it would not surprise me that a thunderstorm would affect it.

[champion performance]

Temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity can all have an effect on the ability to attract powder to your part, even though you have a good ground. High humidity will quench the charge in your powder cloud as well as having an effect on the quality of you coatings.

[SCOTTRODS]

The only thing I've seen a difference in, is that when it rains or the humidity is high outside, I get less issues with Back Ionization... With the Pro gun, This is usually not a problem anyway, but with the EW Pro gun it makes a huge difference... Dry air seems to lend a hand in creating BI more than anything.

[duke46]

I do keep an eye on humidity all the time. My unit is located right where I coat. 45% is ideal but up to 55% I can deal with. If it gets to low then you can have issues real quick like Scott said and same when it is too high. It is one of those things you have to learn to work with. Same goes for liquid painting. Humidity can really mess up your day.

A storm can also cause problems depending on how bad it is like the other guy said. I have coated when one is going on but had no problems but just hoping the power stayed on till I could at least get the part coated and into my oven.

I do have a somewhat controlled space and keep a dehumidifier running 24/7. If humidity gets to low I will cut it off. I have a few times had to take a pan of water and put it on a burner just to add some because of the BI problem I was having. The biggest problem I have would be when I have my humidity right in my bay but then have to cut on my exhaust and it is pulling air from the other part of my shop outside my bay and then it is pulling in that humidity. I will then have to coat and turn it off and then get another part ready. But it can raise my humidity level quick but at least no in my whole area. If I have to wait till my dehumidifier takes some out I will but so far I have never had to do that.

[Grounded]

We have noticed the same thing. Applying powder even with my Gema during a heavy storm and faradays are more present. Top coats were more challenging as well.