On Thu, 05 May 2005 03:17:39 GMT, Ecnerwal
wrote:

Teflon (or generically fluoropolymer or non-stick) coatings have an
appeal for certain jobs (like the inside of snowblowers and lawnmowers)
where manufacturers have chosen not to put them. I've always assumed
that the process is beyond small-shop capabilities, and gone in with
paint and wax when the rust and sticking of stuff that should slide out
is too bad. Is there some system that could work in a small shop, and is
accessible to mere humans without DuPont licenses and/or giant
heat-treating ovens?

Or particular (easily available) paints that do a better job of
approximating the effect, without being members of that family...?

There are commercial outfits that do it. The only time I tried it, I
coated the screws of an extruder. The coating lasted about 10 seconds
in use. I didn't expect it to last, but was hoping for long enough to
run an experiment.

Something that did work was PolyOnd. That's Teflon bits embedded in a
nickel matrix. Of course, the conditions in an extruder are extreme
for a coating. Not as bad as the cutting edge of a tool, but lots of
rubbing at 200+ C for 24/7 operation.

Pete Keillor