Hi Guys.
I need to build a drying motor for epoxying my rods. I,m not selling rods, just buildfor my own use so I dont need anything too fancy. Living in the Philippines has advantages, but that does not include finding motors suitable for a finishing unit. I managed to get an oven rotissary motor after three days of tracking around looking for a supplier. My problem is that it is only 2.3rpm. I could go off and find some gearing, but that would be just as monumental a task and be expensive in components, time and gas.
I was wondering if 2.3 rpm is fast enough, given that I take about 20 minutes to epoxy a rod, so it would not be put on the drying unit for the first 20 minutes or so of curing, and may be thick enough not to sag fast enough at this speed Ambient temperatures are around 30-34deg Centigrade (in the 90's Farenhite) and I will be using FlexCoat, not the FC Lite, but the heavier one.
Can I get away with it ? If not at least I have a good motor for a barbeque !
Earl Hamilton.

Earl, I have a 12 rpm drying motor and several 4 rpm drying motors. I like the 4 rpm better. In my opinion, it makes a better finish if the rotation is slower. That said, I think the 2.3 rpm motor should work just fine. If you are concerned about sags, watch it closely for the first few minutes and wick away any sags.

I have an old rotisserie motor in my storage room. I think I'll get it out and see how it does as a dryer motor.

Joe Douglas

Earl,

I have tried numerous speeds and settled on 2/3 rpm as giving me by far the best results. I usually hand turn till the finish no longer sags and then turn on the dryer.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2007 12:32PM by Mike Barkley.

i have a 3rpm, 4rpm and 6rpm and i like the 3rpm the best so you should be fine...i do the same as mike barkley (hes the one that told me to do it like that and it def made my epoxy look sooooo much better)

I use a 200 rpm setup for applying the finish, then transfer the rod to a 4 rpm dryer. I like the faster speed for applying, I get straighter edges on the ends of the finish to the blank. I also get the epoxy on quickly and I am able to wick away the excess before it gets on the dryer.

I do most of mine similar to the way Mike Shelden suggest. If you don't build a lot of rods and don't want to get fancy then the 2.3 rpm would be fine. What you don't want "globs" to form. I have seen Micke Barley's work and it is beautiful. You just need a means to keep the epoxy moving.

Ed Smith

All my drying motors are BBQ rotisserie motors, use only flexcoat and get great finishes. They are 3rpm units

Thanks guys,
You,ve made my day. I just wasn't sure so the question had to be asked. I am doing doing a mega weave on a GT popping rod that I guess will be about 40 hrs work on the weave alone, and I have already put in about 30 hrs on the wrap and doing the weave co-ordinates, so I did not want to ruin that with uneven epoxy.
If only I could use this forum for answers to all of lifes challenges !!!
Regards, A happy
Earl Hamilton.

we use 3, 4, 6, 12, and 18rpm for our drying motors, just because that's what we've collected over time. My buddy likes the faster ones. We tried a 200rpm motor once but then we had to wipe down the walls when it threw the finish on them.

Actually, you can get answers tro all life's challenges here. Go ahead and ask.

Be careful what you wish for, though - - -

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

I used a 4rpm for a year and it was fine. Just picked up an 11rpm and like it a LOT better for applying the finish. To me, a variable speed (1-200) might be ideal and is on my 07/08 winter project list. That 2-3 will be fine.

Dan