Powder Coating Tips

Amazing Tips To Powder Coating and Finishing

Powder Coating Tips: the Cleaning Process

You may ask yourself why the lack of powder coating tips had been done wrong with your product?

What happen is that most production lines do not do professional product's preparation That is why painting and powder coating can have a negative effect is some peoples eyes.

To powder coating properly done, metal parts must be free of any oil, dirt, or other contaminants before starting powder coating.

No question ask! You must clean with metal wash or spray down with pre-painting. But, before you must completely wipe and blow dry the part.

If you would like to have amazing painting and powder coating results this a must!

Tips for Powder Coating Correctly: the Handling

Once the part is thoroughly dry the powder can be applied. Handle the cleaned part with vinyl gloves to avoid contamination.

Learn well how to powder coating otherwise your finger prints can effect adhesion!

Determine how the part should be positioned in the oven before the coating process.

Use the high temperature plugs or high temperature tape to protect critical tolerance areas.

When coating PC cases will effect your powder coating accuracy if not proper consideration is given. Since the powder will coat around corners be sure to mask all appropriate areas or will have a negative effect on your powder coating precision.

Bend wire hooks to hold the part during powder application and curing. Don't use a coated wire as debris from the wire coating may fall on the part during the curing process. Otherwise you will be doing kind of dummies work.

Powder Coating Tips: the Film Thickness

If you had suffer poor adhesion on your product be sure that inadequate cleaning or pretreatment was the reason. A professional powder coating should check pretreatment equipment and chemicals used during the process.

On the other hand, if film thickness looks too high the should reduce thickness by lowering voltage or shorten spray time on the powder gun.

Like anything you plan, in powder coating preparation is the key. If you get your product suffer sandblasting with good media blasting will definitely help on the adhesion.

Powder Coating Tips: the Washing

Why? Because if you expose your product's bare metal it will show you that is fully clean or that it does require an extra cleaning. When this happen it is done by extra hands filing or just by chemical washing.

You must know that if your product is to be exposed to outside environment, then polyester primer is the way to go. I have a motorcycle frame and other motorcycle parts that I powder coated black chrome high gloss 90%.

Then I top coated it with Candy-Red polyester powder coating. It looks as good today as it did in 2001 when I first coated it.

It does not get affected with the rain, snow, and sun. So far, it has virtually zero fade and still has a great high gloss.

Powder Coating Tips: the Long Term Value

When not properly done, powder coating does has its drawbacks too, and is not a cure-all solution.

But, when you compare it and how well it holds up to chipping, cracking, fading and, chalking it is quite remarkable.

I have learned there are even handle bar companies that will powder coat the bar first, then bend it afterward, with no signs of cracking or chipping.

Powder Coating Tips: Media Blasting or Sandblasting

There is a purpose indeed, sandblasting, media blasting or abrasive blasting practically mean "to expose the bare metal surface of the product.

In clear words, "get it cleaned to the grounds". To achieve great quality, your work start here, in order to receive a perfect and full powder coating and liquid painting coverage.

Good media blasting or sandblasting will help the paint or powder to spread evenly and with the best thickness and uniformity of powder coating or liquid painting finishing the customer will expect to receive.

The proper substrate preparation is critical to any finishing method. Our experience with a large variety of fabrications, extrusions, machined, stamped, and cast parts has taught us a great deal about processing lubricants and methods for removal to assure a clean surface.

Powder Coating Tips: Powder Coating Application

Nearly all metallic structures, such as aluminum surfaces, wrought iron and marine boats bottom are susceptible to corrosion.

Corrosion is defined as the degradation of any metallic material due to its interaction with its environment.

It’s a problem that affects many industries, all kind of metallic products and even homes.

So, that is the purpose of painting or powder coating thoroughly and evenly across the bare surface of the product, to avoid interaction with the present environment.

It takes practice to move the hand gun uniformly over the surface. Applying the specified thickness is a matter of experience and skills.

Powder Coating Tips: Curing to Great Finishing

The biggest issues I've found with powder coating so far are:

1) No "bondo" over your parts. If you put bondo on the part, I don't think they can put it in the oven, or if they do, the bondo won't survive and your powder coating will look a mess.

2) It shows every fingerprint and dust a lot when you use the Smooth and or, the Glossy Black. I have ZERO reservations about doing it again.

In fact, I am stockpiling parts to get painted. Once the parts are done, they look brand new!

At this point, if it's metal and needs to be painted black, it's going to Austin Powder Coating!

Contact us for your professional powder coating tips service needs!