Dip tanks?

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I have 2,900 feet of apt. grade handrails to fabricate, paint and install.The fabrication and installation are N.B.D. but im loathing the paint.I have it in my budget for shot blasting and painting BUT if i could increase my profit and lower my overhead that would be much nicer.I DON'T want to hear about powder coating for several reasons, the main being the client dosent want powder.The main reason for this post is i want to build a dip tank for coating the rails.    Im torn between a vertical or horizontal design.   Im leaning toward a flat tank because it would use much less paint overall.   I have an overhead crane to feed the tank so thats not a concern just looking for over all design ideas and thoughts.    Building the tank is a no brainier as i have built a couple hundred plating tanks in the last 20 years.I would ideally like to do 2 sections at a time but would settle on one.  parts are going to be 48" tall and  The longest parts will be 22' long but i could get away with doing them in 10' sections (which i probably will) and then welding them into the finished lengths and spotting them in with some touch up paint. Im not terribly concerned with overall finish quality because the contractor is going to repaint them as the last step before the job is completed.  (not in my bid/contract)Im 99% sure this tank will be for this ONE job and then off to the scrap yard it goes.    I don't want the liability of having the dip tank around full time.I will also probably build several drying racks to hang the post dipped rails for drying.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:If you're using an oil based paint, consider filling your tank 90% full of water and floating the paint on top ... http://forums.legitreviews.com/about8363.html ... then you could use a vertical tank.Dynasty 300DXSmith He/Ar gas mixerMM350PHobart Handler 120Smith LW7, MW5, AW1A
Reply:GENIUS!  I will have to do some mock ups and see how well that will work on a large scale.I was thinking back to when i was a very young lad, there were several ornamental shops around that had dip tanks but as i recall all of them were in ground and concrete.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:The other thing i cant recall is if they thinned the paint any or if it was just in their strait.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Check out the video on this site: http://www.camodipkit.com/ It looks like they lay down the paint and then lower and lift the part.
Reply:Originally Posted by DualieThe other thing i cant recall is if they thinned the paint any or if it was just in their strait.
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireCheck out the video on this site: http://www.camodipkit.com/ It looks like they lay down the paint and then lower and lift the part.
Reply:might want to check if you can get the oil based up there, down south here we cant get the oil based depending if we crossed the border form la county to orange county etc.
Reply:well i want it thick enough to cover but not so thick it takes to long to run off after it leaves the tank.I can source it in Nevada, i keep a Nevada address for situations like that.   Sat when i have to cross state lines to buy a gas can that wont leak gas all over your leg when you try to use it.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:wish i had this thing done cuz i have a gate and some rails that i have to paint tomorrow.   UGH i miss the days when all we did was crank out red iron and made a good profit at it.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualie UGH i miss the days when all we did was crank out red iron and made a good profit at it.
Reply:Even if you have a beam line you cant compete.   I have a stack of atleast 10 different auction brochures on my desk with multiple beam lines and automated fabrications lines, most 2008 or newer.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:And it appears all hell broke loose today and were busier than we have been in 3 years.      Granted not in the same league as 2006 when we were hanging an average of 22,000lbs a day.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:That's a good thing.  If you want to pick us up at the airport, I'll have the boys pack their bags and fly to the west coast for a week or so.  (killing time last week and this week between jobs totally blows, with guaranteed 40 payroll for my guys)Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:You might get a call from me Tuesday.    2 weeks ago i sent everyone home, had NOTHING in the shop for 5 days.   Monday is going to be a waiting game of when the delivery's are going to hit the yard and we can start banging things out. This feast and famine is going to send me to an early grave.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualieanging things out. This feast and famine is going to send me to an early grave.
Reply:government work is secure, i m sure you'll  be fine.