Q: What is Powder Coating?
A: Powder Coating is a process where a finely granulated plastic based powder is sprayed at a very low pressure from an electrically charged gun. Once the part has been thoroughly covered with powder particles, it is placed in a curing oven set at or around 400 degrees. Once removed it is cooled to room temperature, and ready for use.
Q: What is Powder Coating compared to some of the other finishes available?
A: Paint is hard, and very thin. What this means is that paint can be easily chipped, and gives very little protection. Plating, such as chroming, is extremely hard (chips easily), is somewhat thick, and can be very expensive. Anodizing is a process of causing the item to corrode and then dying that rust, and scratches extremely easily. The process of hydro graphic or water printing sometimes called "dipping" uses a base coat of paint and has the same properties of simply painting the item. Powder Coating on the other hand, has about 75% the hardness of chrome plating, it is very "pliable" (it better be, it is finely-granulated semi-plastic powder!) which makes it great for coating items that might see some abuse, and is thicker (1 to 3 mils) compared to paint. In additon, unlike chrome or paint, the cured powder has formed a chemical bond with the metal underneath.
Q: What can't be powder coated?
A: Anything that is plastic, rubber, carbon or fiberglass -- basically anything that is not metal. The item has to be able to take an electrical charge and be able to withstand temperatures of 400 degrees for up to 30 minutes.
Q: What is the average turnaround time on items?
A: Generally speaking, once the items arrive they are put in to the line up of projects. On the day that the items come up for that day they are stripped of the old finish, cleaned and polished on the first day. Masked, coated and cured on the second and shipped or delivered on the third day. Of course this depends on the condition of the parts (some coatings take longer than others) and how busy the shop is. Normally, the shop can process 3 or 4 projects per day. With the mornings deicated to the stripping of items, and the affternoon dedicated to coating the items stripped the day before. We strive for a turn around time of no more than 10 business days, but on occasion it has taken longer.
Q: Can I reduce my cost?
A: YES up to 40%! Remove any existing camo finish with a good paint remover such as Air Craft Stripper or Klean Strip Premium Stripper. An anodized finish can be removed also by you but the chemical process has dangerous fumes and the metal is very time sensitive in the solution. Feel free to contact us about anodize finish removal. Media blasting will also work on both finishes but can be costly unless you have other access. In general, the closer you get the part to bare, smooth metal then the lower your cost, and the quicker your turnaround can be!
