Everyone wants their coatings to skin over, be dust-free, or dry faster. There are various technologies to accelerate the force curing of a coating such as; air movement, convection heat (oven) and infrared, besides accelerator additives from your coating supplier.

Additional clean compressed air movement across a wet coating will accelerate the time to skinover and cure. Dry-Off Guns with the aid of a venturi design can genereate a lot of air flow from a 8 cfm compressor.

Ovens (convection heat) can be batch or pass through in design, and can elevate the inside ambient temperature to over 500 degrees F. Ovens for plastic and wood substrates operate between 90-150 degrees F. While ovens for metal substrates operate between 150-500 degrees F. These ovens run on gas, electric, oil, propane, or steam and cure from the outside of the coating to the inside substrate.

I.R. Ovens (infrared) can also be batch or pass through in design. Unlike a convection oven the curing process is from the inside out. The specific infrared absorption wave length of organic coatings is most efficient between 3 to 10 microns. The entire substrate mass does not have to be raised to a specific curing temperature, which can reduce the curing time by 1/3. Curing from the inside out greatly reduces the chance of trapping water or solvents. These I.R. units or ovens run on gas, propane, or electric.

Infrared curing is energy radiated directly on a surface by a source (emitter). Infrared (I.R.) curing is short, medium, or long wavelength. The wavelength passes through the coating and upon making contact with the substrate reflects back out of the wet coating. Two things occur at this time, the substrate starts to warm up and drive off solvents or water, and secondly as the wave length reflects back out of the wet coating it brings with it the solvent or water.

Typical benefits of Infrared Curing

• Cures the coating from the inside out, which is the best technology
• Faster cure times than any other air-dry coating curing technologies
• I.R. ovens require a lot less floor space than convection ovens
• Generally the finish is smoother than other curing technologies

Disadvantages of Infrared Curing

• Rapidly cures what it sees, leaving the hidden areas to cure at there normal air-dry rate. Most manufacturers are okay with the hidden areas drying at a slower rate, because the hidden areas do not effect there handling and packing schedule.

Since long wavelength does little for force curing we will only discuss medium and short wave length.

Medium wave length offers moderate curing of the coating and is the preferred choice for substrates that are temperature sensitive such as: insulation, paper, plastic, and wood. Also medium wave length saves up to 50% energy over a short wave system.

Short wave length is more intense and will cure the coating sooner and is the choice for pre-heating metals, and curing coatings and powder on metal substrates. Short wave length can be used on temperature sensitive substrates in conjunction with the monitoring of the products curing temperature, and with the cycling on and off of the intense short wave length.

Many times an I.R. oven design will consist of a combination of Medium wave at the beginning of the curing process, and short wave length as a "kicker" at the end of the oven.

First let the wet film flash-off and start to skin-over before using the I.R. Apply the portable I.R. at a minimum distance of 18" to 24". The further the I. R. head is away from the subject the larger the area of cure. Vary the time and distance until you achieve the results you like best. Time not temperature is the major factor in determining full cure. Air movement across the curing coating is recommended to accelerate the cure of water-base coatings. Normal full cure time of medium wave length is 20 to 40 minutes, and short wave length is about half the time. Versus 1 to 2 days of air-drying at room temperature. Before buffing or wet sanding allow at least two hours for the coating to cool-down.

Dry-Off Gun, accelerates the drying of coatings, especially water-base coatings. Requires 7 cfm at 20-30psi and with venturi design generates 2 to 3 times more volume of air. Allow coating to flash-off, than at a distance of +30" apply the air. This gun has a fine inlet screen and adjustable air flow.
Our Price $88.20	Quantity

Portable Infrared (I.R.) Single Head Unit fully cure your solvent or water-base coatings in 20-35 minutes. this CE listed electric unit effectively covers a 24" tall by 36" wide area at a distance of 24" to 30". The portable stand with wheels is very stable and is 6' tall. Requires 120V AC, and draws 13 amps, producing 1500 watts or medium wave length infrared. Included is a 60 minutes timer, and this safety feature is the only way we will sell a portable. We recommend assembling the element in the head face-up on your workbench prior to mounting on the stand.
Our Price $184.85	Quantity
Replacement I.R. Element, for the above Infrared Unit.
Our Price $45.14	Quantity

Economy Portable Short Wave Infrared 2 Emitter Lamp, Coatings either solvent or water-base will cure in 15 to 30 minutes. This unit provides 800 or 1600 watts @ 222 volts. Emitters are vertically attached to a four caster 40" diamater stand with two casters having brakes. Working height is 64" and overall height is 70". Both 25" wide emitters independently swivel 90 degrees, and rotate 270 degrees. The 5' power cord requires variable I.R. intensity adjustment, 0-60 minute timer with automatic shut-off with bell, and independent on/off enitter switches. This twin emitter unit is best for curing vertical surfaces, as the emitters are limited to half the cure area when curing a horizontal surface. Minimum cure distance after flash-off is 16" to 20". Maximum cure distance 30". Maximum Cure Area is 48" High by 26" Wide. Compare unit to a Curemate CM3.
	Our Price $1055.00	Quantity
Replacement element for above 2 Emitter Lamp
	Our Price $89.96	Quantity

Economy Portable Short Wave Infrared 3 Emitter Lamp, Coatings either solvent or water-base will cure in 15 to 30 minutes. This unit provides 800 or 2400 watts @ 220 volts. Emitters are attached to a 3 axis carriage, which is attached to a very stable 40"L x 32"W stand. The stand arm is adjustable with a hydraulic assist cylinder for easy vertical adjustment. Mounted on four casters with two casters having brakes. Working height is 66" and overall height is 87". These 25" wide emitters independently swivel 90 degrees, and the carriage rotates 270 degrees. the 5' power cord requires a 15 Amp plug to match your 22oV single phase 15 Amp grounded socket. This unit draws 9 amps. This CE Listed unit has a variable I.R. intensity adjustment, 0-60 minute timer with automatic shut-off with bell, and independent on/off emitter switches. These emitter units cure both vertical and horizontal surfaces with a Maximum Cure Area of 55" high by 24" wide. Minimum cure distance after flash-off is 16" to 20". Maximum cure distance 30". Compare this unit to a Curemaster Super or 17-1360. This unit can only ship by motor-freight, and does not qualify for free freight.
Our Price $1915.43	Please call to Order
Replacement element for above 3 Emitter Lamp
Our Price $89.96	Quantity