ldzoller Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I have made a fluid bed from 2" PVC pipe, much like others I have seen on this board. My problem is, no matter how I fine tune the air supply (which is an aquarium pump on 3/8" tubing with a valve to control air flow, btw) all I get is a volcano or two and no real "floating" powder. I am using a coffee filter under the powder cup. Could the filter be the problem? Not enough air? Too much air? Too small diameter pipe? Not enough powder in the cup? Too much powder? Please help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkjc2 Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 On mine, I had to cut the air flow way down to get it to work. I'm not sure if it should all turn into a "liquid" or if it just keeps it from packing together. On mine it just kind of fluffs the powder. If you are just getting a couple of places that are spewing up, try to use less poweder and cut your air flow down. This is what has worked for me. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I have seen every one keep saying coffee filter coffee filter. I started with the same thing and made a mess used more paint than before. You would have to plug the filter before it would work. The grocery store brown bags (lunch sack). they work a lot better. less air no spiting. it also works well for the large production beds. as long as there is a wire mesh under it holding it level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 ps i also use ABS 2" coupling $.52 2' peace of 2" pipe $1.95 a water line valve $4.95 use the good valve. I am only cheap when I can be. cut 4" off the pipe and cut one side boil it and flaten it out. glue it to the bottom of the coupling drill a hole for the valve just under the center line screw the valve in add the air line. get another 4" peace of pipe brown bag it put it in the coupling. that is as cheap as i can make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Idzoller PM me your snail mail - have some micro mesh screen scraps you can have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_grayfeather Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I made the exact same set up as Kelly (2" ABS and 1/8" icemaker valve) and haven't had any troubles. The only thing I can think of is to much air... I was told, or read somewhere, that if you're getting a lot of "dust" coming out of the cup then its to much air. I will be trying the brown bag.... it can always be made better. Thanks for the tip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloomisman Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 not to hijack his thread because I'm having the same issue. The way I understand it if I'm correct just a light dust should come from it? also, do you stir the powder to losen it up to keep the air moving through better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayooper Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Volcanos in a fluid bed are usually caused by an unimpeded air flow to the powder paint. This could be caused by a hole in the seam at the bottom of the powder cup between the cup and the filter, a thin spot in the filter, or a small hole in the filter. The powder paint should bubble like water at a soft boil and you should be able to drop a penny and have it go right to the bottom of the cup. No stirring should be necessary. Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akriverrat Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 i found that an allergy pillowcase works pretty well for me. 240 thread is what i picked up 100 percent cotton. maybe the polyester would work better but i havent tried yet. one way to fix the air problem might be to build a taller cup and use more paint to even things out a bit. hope this helps. i also threw a coffee filter in the air chamber to break up the directional flow of the air so that it dosent slam into the other side of the airchamber and flow up one side of the cup. i am currently using a cheap aquarium air control valve witch i will be switching out soon enuff. its a pretty much on or off deal. john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
