The right R.P.M.

socalkid · May-10-2008, 10:53 AM

For the most part i see two different speed drying motors, 6 rpm and 18 rpm. Im not planing on doing any power wrapping anytime soon so the motor will be used for drying only. Witch speed motor should i buy? Im using flex coat high and lite finish.

landingcrew · May-10-2008, 11:03 AM

i would get the 18 rpm, i find that flex coat when you do marbling, likes to move alot, so a little faster never hurts to hold everything together.

mark

Zombie · May-10-2008, 11:05 AM

This is another topic where I don't really know if there's a right answer. Personally, I use the Flex Coat 18 RPM dryer. The only other speed I've tried was 6 and that was on my AT wrapper/dryer. I got satisfactory results from both but like the 18 better because I can get a straighter edge where the finish comes down on the blank. The faster speed makes it alot easier (IMO). Alot of builders like to turn the rod by hand and don't use a dryer except when maybe putting the initial finish on. Randy.

socalkid · May-10-2008, 11:11 AM

Thanks a lot guys, Im going to buy the 18 rpm.

Fuji_Pedler · May-10-2008, 11:41 AM

Like Randy said, higher RPM allows for a straighter edge. Lots of builders apply their finish with the rod rotating on the finish/dryer motor and the faster it goes, the faster the finish goes on. Flex Coat offers 40 & 200rpm units for that reason.

Those are too fast to dry on though. It'll football your finish or push it to the edge of the wraps because of centrifugal force. Epoxy finish is self leveling if you allow it to be, just like water will find it's own level. I know a number of builders that prefer lower RPM motors (as low as 2RPM) for that reason. Less centrifugal force. In fact, we have a customer that does exotic feather inlays in grip ramps who recently tried some new finishes. He had always used 18RPM dryers, but picked up a couple of 6RPM units because the lower viscosity of the finish was causing it to "creep" at 18RPM.

I've got a couple of GM18's with a bizillion hours on them and they work just fine getting a level finish when you apply the finish correctly. After applying finish I usually let the rod sit still, flipping it every few minutes and whicking off any excess that runs to the bottom. That results in a flatter finish for me than when I used to apply it and rotate the rod right away.

I've also got a 6RPM Quad dryer that I like just fine too. Again, it's a little more forgiving than the GM18's.

socalkid · May-10-2008, 12:59 PM

how many hours should i wait for one coat of flex coat lite to dry on the dryer?

Fuji_Pedler · May-10-2008, 01:02 PM

Depends on the room temp. On a warm day, two hours will usually do it, but in a colder garage it could be 3-4. It can come off the dryer (or the dryer can stop) while the finish is still tacky to the touch, but the epoxy needs to cure enough that it won't sag before you stop the motor.