Is a 6x6x15 sized powder coating oven a good size

In the world of powder coating, size does matter. When purchasing a new oven – whether a standalone unit or an add-on accessory to your current paint booth – it’s important to take your space and production needs into consideration. A spider-like sprayer won’t cut it if you have large objects to coat—but on the other hand, a small oven will also be out of scope if you need to maintain high production rates. To determine if a 6x6x15 powder coating oven is right for your operation, ask yourself these questions:

What is the volume of parts you currently produce each day?

While it’s important to take your production volume into consideration, it’s also important to remember that production rates can vary from job to job. If you produce a lot of large parts, then your production rate will be different from a smaller shop that specializes in finishing small items. A good rule of thumb is to estimate the volume of parts you currently produce each day—but take that number with a grain of salt. Remember that powder coating is a finish process, so your daily production could be significantly lower than what it would be if you were painting with an automotive-grade paint booth.

Do you need to maintain high production rates?

If you need to maintain a high production rate, a 6x6x15 sized oven is not the best option. While they can accommodate a good number of items, they often can’t produce them as quickly as larger ovens. If you’re trying to keep production rates high, a 6x6x15 sized oven probably isn’t the best choice. That being said, if you want to keep production rates consistent, you may want to consider a 6x6x15-sized oven. If you routinely produce high volumes of one or two items, those items will be done before the others are even halfway across the line. Consistency is important in production, and consistency is easier to maintain if all goods come off the line at the same rate.

Which coating materials do you currently use, and will you continue to use them?

If you’re currently using a couple of different coating materials, you’ll want to make sure a 6x6x15 sized oven has the right heating capabilities. If you currently use a water-based epoxy and will continue to do so, you need a unit that can operate at around 850 degrees F. However, if you’re currently using an oil-based epoxy and will continue to do so, you need a unit that can operate at around 950 degrees F. If you produce goods with a variety of coating materials, you may want to consider a 6x6x15 sized oven that can accommodate a variety of temperatures. This will allow you to take advantage of the benefits of each material without having to change out your equipment.

Are there any specialty sprayers or tools in your current line-up that you’d like to retain?

If you have specialty sprayers or tools that you’re planning to keep and use in your new oven, you’ll want to make sure they’re compatible with the new unit. If there are particular sprayers or tools you’d like to keep in your line-up, make sure to verify that they can be used with your new oven before purchasing it.

Is it important for the oven to be easy to clean and maintain?

If ease of maintenance is a high priority, you may want to consider a model that has a removable grid. This will allow you to clean the grid without having to disassemble the entire oven. If ease of maintenance is important, you’ll also want to make sure the unit you select has a convenient cleaning cycle. The cleaning cycle should minimize the amount of time the unit is off-line—but it should also be thorough enough to remove stubborn residue. If ease of maintenance is important, be sure to check the cleaning cycle times for the unit you’re considering.