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Powder people...question about fluid bed

Just put together a dual fluid bed and am having problems with blow out. First one ive built but spent a decent amount of time researching. The powder will just start to bubble without puffing powder then blow through everytime..using pro-tech powder. Setup is air pump out of a pellet stove, inline rheostat, 1/4'' line to T, then to dual watts valve into dual 2" base, coupler and stack. Have tried coffee filters...from 1 to 4 layers, played around with all rheostat settings/valve settings, different amounts of powder. If i turn the air flow up too high or have the valve open too much it just creates a cloud of powder and rolls out slowly or turn it down and it bubbles for a second then spits. Just cant seem to find the sweet spot. Was looking to paint some heads for this weekend, but im just wasting powder. Ideas?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by D.J. LaRoche on March 24, 2011 at 6:14am

Dustin, I would do a search on Tackleunderground about this subject. They have had several discussions on it. I would take a look at other options instead of a coffee filter, but I know guys that use them just fine. My fluid beds are made for me, and the material is more ridgid, but I am not sure what it actually is. I have also noticed that certain colors of powders do not act the same. One color may work perfectly, and the next seems to be heavier and does not float up like it should. Have you tried different colors?

Permalink Reply by Dustin Chaplin on March 24, 2011 at 7:11am

Ive looked around on tackle underground, and bbc...thats how i put together the parts list. As far as a filter, it seems like its coffee filters, some printer paper, certain envelopes and super fine brass mesh. Everybody seems to have there own preferance. I have only tried brown, but do have a couple more sitting around. So when it is operating properly (looking like simmering water), do you have powder that is air born, or does it all stay in the cup? Thanks

Permalink Reply by Dave Massey on March 24, 2011 at 7:21am

See if this helps at all.

http://www.wafish.com/profiles/blogs/fluidized-bed-for-powder

Permalink Reply by Dustin Chaplin on March 24, 2011 at 7:31am

Pretty much that is my exact setup, except im running a "T" and splitting the available air. Ill try tonight with diff. filter elements. Thanks for the help.

Dave Massey said:

See if this helps at all.

http://www.wafish.com/profiles/blogs/fluidized-bed-for-powder

Permalink Reply by Ray Lehrman on March 24, 2011 at 10:49am

For the colors that don't float well, I stir the powder with a spoon when dipping the jighead. Or shake the fluid bed slightly when dipping.

Permalink Reply by Zackery Shaff on March 24, 2011 at 2:43pm

You shouldn't have much powder escaping when its working. Are the cups tall enough to contain the powder? Maybe some pics would help diagnose.

Permalink Reply by Dustin Chaplin on March 24, 2011 at 2:50pm

I can grab some pics when i get home tonight. The cups are roughly 3" tall...which should be deep enough. I grabbed an extra pump from work and am going to try diff. filters and diff. colors too see if there are any differences. Ive seen videos of it working properly and there is no visible powder escaping, just a nice slow "boil". I just cant seem to maintain the boil...will bubble 4 or 5 times then volcano though the "holes" left by the bubbles. I think it is more the filter than anything. Ill diagnose when i get off work tonight.

Permalink Reply by Dustin Chaplin on March 24, 2011 at 4:39pm

Well, just got home and used a paper lunch bag as a filter element. Works like a champ. I may make my cups a little taller...maybe a half in or so. But its time to paint. A little trouble but for about 15 bucks in supplies i have no complaints.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on March 24, 2011 at 7:06pm