Fluid bed troubles

trying to rig up a home made fluid bed. I sealed a 3 inch pvc pipe coupler on a sheet of poly plastic. I then cut some 3 inch pipe to go down in the coupler. I ran hose and valves from air pump into the coupler and shove a coffee filter down the coupler with the piece of pipe to act as a bed. seen it on a link on here. turned the air on after getting put together with powder in it and got volcanoes around the sides and that was it. kept messing and just could not get a different result. I did find an air leak around the barb going into the coupler, but I figured that it was getting enough air if it was making volcanoes. My paint is a couple years old and had some chunks in it but I busted them up and the paint seems to be fluffy now. Could it be the paint? heard that pro tech powder has a long shelf life. Any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks CF

Powder paint has no known shelf life, might be humidity got to it. Moister will ruin powder paint.

Volcanos come from unimpeded air flow. Do you have a regulating valve on it?

What color paint? White paint is notorious for volcanoes and difficult to get 'settled down'. Several people have noted that white (maybe because it's heavier?) is more problematic than any other color. If not that, then probably the paint has gotten damp. Dry it in a pan in the oven on low heat. Also, try a brown paper bag and seal it on the end of the pipe; I (and lots of folks..) get better results than with a coffee filter. Your mileage may vary. Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by backtocrappie

Powder paint has no known shelf life, might be humidity got to it. Moister will ruin powder paint.

Volcanos come from unimpeded air flow. Do you have a regulating valve on it?

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Yep sure do. Must be the paint. CF

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Originally Posted by BleuGhill

What color paint? White paint is notorious for volcanoes and difficult to get 'settled down'. Several people have noted that white (maybe because it's heavier?) is more problematic than any other color. If not that, then probably the paint has gotten damp. Dry it in a pan in the oven on low heat. Also, try a brown paper bag and seal it on the end of the pipe; I (and lots of folks..) get better results than with a coffee filter. Your mileage may vary. Hope this helps.

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green paint. I think it is the powder. will try to dry it out. Will also try the paper bag. CF

if that dont work dont toss the powder yet, get some new stuff and if you still have issue you know its your bed and not the powder

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Originally Posted by john h

if that dont work dont toss the powder yet, get some new stuff and if you still have issue you know its your bed and not the powder

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10/4. CF

Tried the fluid bed last night with paper bag. Works a lot better. Did keep one reoccurring volcano only to find a weak spot in the bag later but the powder would slosh around like fluid in the cup. This is the desired effect isn't it? Should I expect anything else? Thanks. CF

One more little thing or maybe not so little is what happened to me. When I bought my Fluid Bed I could never get happy with the way it worked or lack of. I finally told the wife to pick me up another pump so I could use two beds at the same time without changing. Well the new air pump made all the difference and I guess there was something wrong with that first one even though it was new. It sounded the same, but didn't work the same at all.

Skip

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Originally Posted by skiptomylu

One more little thing or maybe not so little is what happened to me. When I bought my Fluid Bed I could never get happy with the way it worked or lack of. I finally told the wife to pick me up another pump so I could use two beds at the same time without changing. Well the new air pump made all the difference and I guess there was something wrong with that first one even though it was new. It sounded the same, but didn't work the same at all.

Skip

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Skip, I have two hooked to mine with a valve. I've got air.:DCF