refrigeration coil glue?

[mrichard]

I have an Ideal 55 that I am now putting back together. My coils were soldered to the inside case, when I powder coated the parts I removed the coils from the case. What can I use to attach the coils to the inner case without hurting the powder coating. TIA

Mike

[johnieG]

Note to newbies, powder coating bakes the paint on at about 400- F, which will melt the soft solder that holds the coils to the tank on most sliders...

Try quick setting epoxy, industrial size.

[mrichard]

Thanks for the reply, but as I stated in my first post I removed the coils before the powder coat. Note to old timers read the post.

[johnieG]

The coils are held on in one of three ways over the years with Ideal sliders, the earliest was the universal duct tap of its day , Pitch.. next they used soft solder, last they used a "U" shaped bracket that was spot welded to the tanks wall & then folded over the coil to hold it against the tank-wall...

You can still epoxy the coils to the powder coating, but I wouldn't recommend the same for a painted tank, but you're in for some work to reattach it. it's either that or drill along the tank & use some hardware fasteners to clamp it to the tank again, OR convert it from a convection cooled tank to a forced air evaporator like Pat Pixley did on one of his sliders, it turned out nice.

[mrichard]

Thanks for all the info, I think I will try and epoxy them on if that doesn't work I'll spot weld tabs on and re-powder coat. Mine actually had both tar and solder on the coils. Thanks again

Mike

[zadd]

I use aluminum ac tape . It works great and can be picked up ACE hardware and homedepot.

[collecture]

I use aluminum ac tape. It works great and can be picked up ACE hardware and homedepot.

I like that idea....have not heard of that one before. I bet that would work well!

[johnieG]

Hmmm..I've got some Pro-series Aluminum HVAC tape that has a thick adhesive backing that has an inner plastic tape separating the adhesive side from the aluminum face, it has a real "until death due us part" stickiness once it's placed, it's there for good because if  your try to remove it you'll have to destroy it even to reposition, it reminds me of windshield adhesive in tape form. I mean this stuff is sticky! It feels like it would take a layer of skin off along with the the hair if you ever had it stuck to your arm! plus the aluminum is also thick enough to cut you like a blade.

It could work in this case because the tanks been blasted & powder coated, so long as the tubes clean of any oily residue, it may be just the ticket.

[mrichard]

Thanks for all the help here is a couple pics of my first attempt. I just have to finish the coin mech.

[Creighton]

Very Nice!!
Creighton

[johnieG]

Wow! that's really nice!So how did you reattach the coils?

[mrichard]

At first I tried the epoxy but it didn't seem to hold well enough to the powder coating so I used the AC tape and it holds great! I also think a good duct tape would work also. I also tried silicon and it worked but you have to use it in several placed on each coil and it needs to be taped overnite till it dries. So to make a long story short AC tape.

[Blind1968]

Nice!

[zadd]

The duck tape would rot over time . I would stick with the ac tape .