Light Armor Ovens · Buyer's Guide
What Size Powder Coating Oven
Do You Need?
Start with the largest part you plan to coat, add clearance for airflow, then check that your shop has the electrical service to match. This guide walks through both — sizing and power — so you order once and order right.
Match Your Parts to an Interior
Model names use rounded nominal sizes; the measured inside working space is listed beneath each one. All interior figures are approximate and may vary slightly by build. Leave a few inches around each part so hot air can circulate — parts that crowd each other or touch the walls cure unevenly. Models marked fits 36″ doorway move into most shops without removing a door frame.
| Model | Interiornominal / measured | Volume | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Mini | ~2′ × 2′ × 2.5′22″ W × 23″ D × 29″ T | ~10 cu ft | Benchtop work — firearm components for Cerakote, brackets, hardware, small trim fits 36″ doorway |
| LA2500B | ~2′ × 2′ × 5′22″ W × 23″ D × 60″ T | ~20 cu ft | Tall narrow parts — full-length rifle barrels and uppers, driveshafts, trim fits 36″ doorway |
| LA5000LB | ~3′ × 2′ × 5′38″ W × 23″ D × 60″ T | ~30 cu ft | Holds one 24″ wheel, two at most. Motorcycle parts, multiple Cerakote firearms per rack fits 36″ doorway |
| LA5000D | ~3′ × 3′ × 5′36″ W × 37″ D × 60″ T | ~45 cu ft | Deeper chamber for bulkier parts — small frames, batches of medium components |
| LA7500SB | ~3′ × 3′ × 6′36″ W × 37″ D × 72″ T | ~54 cu ft | Full 6-foot height — tall frames, railings, standing parts cured upright |
| LA10K | ~4′ × 4′ × 5′45″ W × 46″ D × 60″ T | ~80 cu ft | Bumpers, larger assemblies, mixed batches |
| LA10K6 | ~4′ × 4′ × 6′45″ W × 46″ D × 72″ T | ~96 cu ft | Four 24″ wheels in a single cycle — the common choice for wheel shops |
| LA10K7 | ~4′ × 4′ × 7′45″ W × 46″ D × 84″ T | ~112 cu ft | Tall assemblies plus wheel-set capacity |
| LA10KW series | ~6′ × 2′ × 5–7′65″ W × 23″ D × 60–84″ T | ~60–84 cu ft | Wide but shallow — long parts, railings, bumpers in a narrow footprint fits 36″ doorway |
| LA15K | ~5′ × 5′ × 5′53″ W × 54″ D × 60″ T | ~125 cu ft | Large frames, high-volume production batching |
| LABS series | ~4′×8′×6′ → 6′×16′×6′from 42″ W × 100″ D × 72″ T | ~192–512 cu ft | Production shops — long rails, chassis, walk-in scale work |
A common mistake is sizing to today's biggest part exactly. If you expect to grow, the next size up almost always costs less than replacing an oven in two years. Exact dimensions for any model are on that product's page. Browse all curing ovens →
Electrical Requirements by Size
Every Light Armor oven runs on 240V single-phase power — the same service as an electric dryer or welder, so many shops and home garages already have what's needed. The figures below are all at 240V.
| Tier | Drawat 240V 1-Ph | Breakerat 240V 1-Ph | Hook-up | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 14A | 20A | Plug & play available | LA Mini · LA2500B |
| Tier 2 | 28A | 30A | Plug & play available | LA2500B6 · LA5000LB · LA5000LB6 · LA5000D |
| Tier 3 | 42A | 45A | Plug & play available | LA7500SB · LA7500SB7 |
| Tier 4 | 56A | 60A | Plug & play available | LA7500SB8 · LA10K · LA10K6 · LA10K7 · LA10K8 · LA10KW · LA10KW6 · LA10KW7 · LA15K |
| Tier 5 | 84A | 90A | Hardwire only | LA15K6 · LA15K7 · LABS-486 · LABS-586 |
208V three-phase upgrade: available on all models, and typically reduces amperage draw by roughly 20% versus the 240V figures above. · Larger LABS production ovens exceed 100A — contact us for the exact service requirement. Tier 5 and all larger LABS ovens must be hardwired by a certified electrician; plug-and-play is not offered at those amperages.
🔌Your Oven Needs a Neutral Wire — Two Hots and a Ground Is Not Enough
This is the single most common installation problem we see. A Light Armor oven requires four conductors from the breaker:
The heating elements run on 240V across the two hot legs — but the on/off switch, PID controller, and blower fans are 120V components and draw from hot-to-neutral. Without a neutral conductor, those controls have no power path and the oven will not turn on at all, even though the elements are correctly wired.
If your oven appears completely dead on first power-up, a missing neutral is the first thing to check. Make sure your electrician runs 2 hot, 1 neutral, and 1 ground to the disconnect — confirm it before the walls close up.
⚠Electrical Guidance Only — Have a Licensed Electrician Review Your Install
The figures in this chart are standard estimates for typical installations. They are not exact specifications for your site. Actual requirements vary with wire gauge, run length, panel capacity, ambient conditions, and local electrical code.
A certified electrician must review your wiring plan before any work is committed. Long runs — particularly those exceeding 75 feet — typically require larger wire and a larger breaker to compensate for voltage drop.
Light Armor Ovens publishes this chart for planning guidance only, and assumes no liability for installations performed without review by a licensed electrician. When in doubt, ask us and ask your electrician.
Don't Forget the Spray Booth
An oven cures the finish — a spray booth is where you apply it. Pairing the two keeps overspray contained, lighting consistent, and your shop cleaner. Unlike the ovens, our powder coating spray booths run on standard 120V and plug into an ordinary outlet with an extension cord, so there's no electrical work involved.
Booths run from a compact 2′ × 2′ × 5′ up to 5′ × 5′ × 7′, with LABS open-face booths for production shops. A common pairing is matching the booth footprint to your oven so parts move straight from spray to cure. Browse spray booths →
Powder Coating & Cerakote in One Oven
The same oven handles both. Most powder cures between 350°F and 400°F; Cerakote runs lower and thinner. Our ovens are rated to 500°F, which covers both plus epoxy resin, carbon fiber, composites, rubber, and adhesives.
Cerakote shops typically size by rack count rather than part size — how many firearms hang per cycle drives the decision more than any single dimension.
Built to Order vs. In Stock
Built to order means made to your spec — size, insulation grade, controller, venting, base type. Typical turnaround is 5–10 business days.
In Stock & Ready to Ship units are pre-built in popular configurations and leave faster. Supply is limited and changes often.
