A Roger and Richard Safety Short

Meet Roger. Roger is always struggling with his industrial oven and the quality of his powder-coating finish. Poor Roger. His parts come out unevenly cured, sometimes with a dreaded orange peel effect, other times looking like a patchy sunburn. He sure wishes he could be as stress-free as his friend Richard.

Now, meet Richard. Richard runs a smooth, efficient shop where his industrial oven works like a well-calibrated machine because, well, it is a well-calibrated machine.

So what makes the difference? Is Richard simply a superior human being? Does he possess some secret knowledge passed down through the generations? Not at all! He just follows a few key principles for planning, installing, and maintaining his powder-coating oven. Let's walk through them before Roger melts down, figuratively and possibly literally.

1. Plan It Right: Location, Ventilation, and Power 

In his infinite wisdom, Roger squeezed his oven into a cramped corner next to the storage shelves and the coffee maker. Now, whenever he fires it up, the shop smells like a strange mix of burnt powder and coffee after it's been on the burner all day. Meanwhile, Richard planned the placement of his oven with proper ventilation, clearance, and a dedicated power supply.

Pro Tip: Industrial ovens need good airflow to function properly. Poor placement can cause uneven heating, inefficient curing, and, worst of all, extra work. And let's be honest, Roger isn't a big fan of extra work.

2. Install It Right: Leveling and Calibration Matter

Roger figured "close enough" was good enough when setting up his oven. A little wobble never hurt anyone, right? Wrong. His parts are cooking unevenly, and his finishes are as unpredictable as his morning coffee order. Richard, on the other hand, made sure his oven was properly levelled, calibrated, and tested before the first batch ever went in.

Pro Tip: If your oven isn't level, heat distribution will be inconsistent. And if heat distribution is inconsistent, you might as well be baking cookies with the door open because your results will be disappointing, and someone will probably cry.

3. Maintain It Right: Filters, Sensors, and the Little Details 

Roger's maintenance routine is simple: wait for something to break, then panic. His oven's temperature sensor is caked in powder residue, his air filters haven't been changed since the last Olympics (the last one he remembers watching on TV at least), and his heating elements are struggling under years of neglect.

Richard? Richard keeps things simple:

✅ Filters checked and replaced regularly (because airflow matters).

✅ Temperature sensors cleaned and calibrated (because accuracy matters).

✅ Heating elements inspected (because staying hot matters).

Pro Tip: A little routine maintenance can prevent costly downtime and keep your powder coating looking professional, not like a DIY project gone wrong.

4. Troubleshoot Like a Pro: When Things Go Wrong

Despite his best efforts, even Richard has the occasional issue. What’s the difference when Richard does? He knows how to diagnose and fix it. Here's his quick guide for troubleshooting:

Uneven Curing? Check airflow, oven placement, and temperature calibration.

Orange Peel Finish? It could be too much heat or not enough cure time, and adjust accordingly.

Patchy Results? Ensure even coating application and verify your oven is heating evenly.

Meanwhile, Roger is still scratching his head and blaming "bad luck."

‍Be Like Richard, Not Like Roger

Industrial ovens are a major investment, so don't let bad planning and poor maintenance turn them into expensive headaches. Take a little time to plan your setup, install it properly, and stick to a maintenance routine.

And if you need help? Our team is here to help you troubleshoot, service, or upgrade your industrial oven so you can be more like Richard and less like Roger.