Kondia FV-1 Head disassembly

[Mayhem]

Whenever you get the chance Ken.

[PixMan]

Shipped today!

[Mayhem]

I'm still waiting to hear back from Kondia regarding the missing hole in the screw, so today I did some baking

   

Originally, I polished the handles but they were rust magnets. I cleaned them up and sprayed them with clear coat but it didn't look good (somewhat cloudy) and wore off easily. So, I decided I would powder coat them yellow to match the 9 ball.

The big ones were too big for the quill feed, backgear and feed rate selectors and scaled down versions didn't look good and weren't functional. So I decided on short ones that were the same diameter as the large end on the others. These function well and I'm happy with how they came out.

   
   
   
   

[TomG]

Love the mill Darren but don't you think the column is a bit light?

Nice job on the handles. I've always wanted to try powder coating, it looks like fun.

Tom

[EdK]

Nice job on the knobs Darren. Can you describe your powder coating process & equipment?

Thanks,
Ed

[stevec]

(07-12-2014, 10:33 AM)Mayhem Wrote: I'm still waiting to hear back from Kondia regarding the missing hole in the screw,

Darren, If you receive what appears to be an empty envelope from Kondia, don't throw it out it may contain the missing hole.

[DaveH]

Very nice Darren, I like yellow
Now just paint the handle stems green and they will look like daffodils

DaveH

[PixMan]

I would hope that when you get the part for the quill feed that I made you don't color it like that.



I expect to see it painted "machine gray", if anything at all.

[Mayhem]

Thanks guys.

Ed - the powder coating process is very simple and I purchased the gun from Eastwood when I was in the US a few years back. Once back home, I found a local powder coating shop that would sell me a kg of powder rather than having to buy bulk bags from supply houses. It wasn't economically viable to get the powder from Eastwood.

The process is very simple. Each part needs to be able to be connected to the control box (via an alligator clip), so that the powder is attracted to the part. The gun runs on 8psi so it just dusts the part. Once you are happy with the coverage, you put them into an oven, wait for the powder to flow (looks like wet paint) and then bake for 15 minutes. I picked up an old oven for free that was being thrown out during a kitchen re-model. I see them on the verge awaiting collection all the time.

Once you use an oven for powder coating, you CANNOT use it for food again, so don't use the one indoors... Also, you need to block holes that you don't want powder in and cover threads. Threaded holes are a simple matter of using an old bolt/screw and other holes can be plugged using commercially available silicone bungs or wet news paper (think big spit balls!). For external threads, heat resistant tape or cooking foil works well.

If you search for Eastwood powder coating gun you will find several videos. From memory, there is a video on the Eastwood site on using them. You can get starter kits that come with powder but for me it was easier to just grab the gun.

Ken - Your part will be admired in natural light, photographed and then painted grey to match the rest of the machine

[Mayhem]

Well the parts Ken made for me arrived today and I am extremely happy with them. The pictures Ken posted didn't do them justice and I was unable to do any better with my camera. I hope to fit the feed trip bracket on the weekend. The knee elevation screw and nut will be a little while yet as I need to do some sorting sorting in the shop the mill will reside first.

Thanks again Ken