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Fluidized bed for powder coating jigs

Due to crappy cold eastern Washington weather I have been tinkering in my tackle shop and decided to build a fluidized bed for powder coating my jig heads. Thought I would post a couple of pictures and share how to build them at a fraction of the cost of buying one. I decided to make two of them so I could paint more than one color at a time. Total cost is under $20 and they normally retail between $50 to $90 for one.

A fluid bed allows powder paint to be suspended in air to approximately twice its normal volume. By "fluidizing" the powder, quality and control of the paint application are greatly improved over trying to dip into stagnant powder. In other words, the powder paint will look and feel like water at a slight boil making it easier to dip heated jigs and spinner blades into the paint and to allow a thinner, more even coat of paint. This will save time and money by using less paint per jig. Also with a thinner coat, there is less chance of drips forming during the final curing process. Jig eyes remain open and clear of paint.

Items needed are:

2 each 2" PVC male adapter (home depot)
2 each 2" PVC female adapter (home depot)
aquarium air pump (I used a 60 gallon tank pump with two air outputs, about $12 at Wal-Mart)
airline tubing (Wal-Mart)
board for base
2 each inline connectors (home depot drip irrigation)
2 each inline flow valves (home depot drip irrigation)
Brown paper bags - lunch bags you used to take to school (bags work best!)

Drill a hole in the female 2” PVC adapter and glue in the inline connectors (I used liquid nails but anything you have around will do). Next glue the female 2” PVC adapter to the base (again I used liquid nails but anything you have around will do). Hook up the air lines, cut the paper bag and place over the female 2” PVC adapter and screw in the male adapter until it gives you an airtight seal. You are ready to go.

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Comment by RaMcVey on January 12, 2010 at 5:49am: Very Cool.

Comment by Richard Shaff on January 8, 2010 at 12:54pm: Steve,
I haven't used anything but the paper lunch sacks, they have worked perfect. There isn't any tear out so far. When I change bowl's I just put a rubber band around the base to keep the paper sack it in place, unscrew it then screw in the other with a different color.

Comment by Steve Hastings on January 8, 2010 at 11:38am: Richard nice work! Was curious if you have tear out in the paper bags and did you consider coffee filters... may take a few to get the right boil, but they're better with moisture?

Comment by islandbass on January 8, 2010 at 11:37am: Zack,

Thanks. Looks like I am going to build me a few.

Comment by Zackery Shaff on January 8, 2010 at 2:21am: @ islandbass

The air pumps through the paper bag (kinda weird but it makes sense) with high enough force to counteract some of the gravitational forces, suspending the solid powder in a fluid-like state. The paper bag itself is not agitated, just serves as a filter allowing air in but no paint out. Coffee filters also work, but not as well.

Comment by islandbass on January 8, 2010 at 1:16am: That is cool and I never even knew you could do this. I have read the instructions and just need some clarification on one thing because I am not at all familiar with this system so please forgive my ignorance...

Does the air that is pumped into the female adapter agitate the paper bag film which in turn gets the powder to suspend? Sorry if this is a dumb question. Thanks.

Comment by Richard Shaff on January 7, 2010 at 8:27pm: Sorry guy's don't have a video camera, if you have any specific questions regarding the building of the fluid bed or powder coating jigs I would be happy to answer as best I can.

Comment by David Watkins on January 7, 2010 at 10:11am: very cool! I'd like to see a vid too man! Great job!!!!!

Comment by Mike Lukjanowicz on January 7, 2010 at 7:56am: Wow, under $20.00 I spent $100.00 on mine, PLUS the $17.00 for each different pot, for different colors. Great Job!