OUR POWDER COAT PAINT PROCESS
Chemical Stripping
A quality powder coating finish requires careful surface prep. To achieve maximum durability, it’s vital the surface is properly conditioned, washed, and chemically treated before starting the powder coating process. Taking off any previous coating with safe chemicals is the preferred step before the piece is media blasted. This eliminates the need to blast aggressively at high pressures, which likely will damage the material and leave a rough texture that cannot be covered up with a regular application of powder.
Sandblasting
Sandblasting or “Media Blasting,” is a very important step in the powder coating procedure. When the procedure is carried out appropriately, media blasting provides the best surface profile on the metal for maximum adhesion of the powder coat. Sandblasting is the process of forcibly acting a stream of an abrasive material against a rough surface to smoothen it out and replace rust, a coating, impurities, or other contaminants. There are various forms of media blasting such as bead blasting, shot blasting, and soda blasting. This process is often used for getting rust off of metal parts.
Chemical Pre Treatment
After media blasting and an extensive multi step washing process, a chemical pre treatment is given to the naked surface. It reacts with the metal and a super thin protective layer is created. This layer gives the surface more corrosion protection and makes the sticking of the coating stronger. Our professional powder coating team takes the time and care to perform this crucial step, while sadly, many area competitors do not. After this step of the powder coat process is complete, we dispose of all hazardous chemicals and materials following strict local guidelines and dispose of them properly.
Metal Finishing
Metal finishing is the process of shaping, grinding, forming, or fixing metal. Instead of having your expensive or rare piece having to be replaced because of damage, our complex metal finishing procedure can make it good as new! We accomplish this feat by applying and shaping a high temperature filler, removing dents, grinding, welding and fixing scrapes and deep scratches to prep for powder coating.
Masking
Masking for powder coating includes the use of special high temperature tapes and plugs. Areas that do not use coating need to be completely covered to keep powder from sticking to the surface. Cured powder is really hard to remove, so we take extra care while curing. All important holes are clogged up with plugs before coating and we never have to grind surfaces or re-tap threaded holes before putting the piece back together.
Powder Application
The correct application of quality powder coating material is critical to getting a superior powder coated finish. It is our company mission to ensure that only premium ingredients are used in our application processes. Our coating employees carefully choose and rigorously test the materials received from advanced powder coating manufacturers. If it doesn’t pass our testing, we simply do not use it. Period
Curing
Curing, is the final and most important step, in the powder coating process. We use industrial convection ovens to provide even curing while constantly monitoring the customer material temperature to make sure the coating is completely hashed and fully cured for ultra durability. Structural components and heat treated parts like wheels, rims, brake calipers, bicycle frames, etc., are never exposed to ultra hot temperatures that can change their heat treated properties and weaken their strength.
Types of Powder Coats
There are various types of powder coats offered to provide different protection and visual appeal to metal parts. Among these are:
- Aliphatic Urethanes
- Epoxy Coating
- Functional Coatings
- Fusion-Bonded Epoxies
- Hybrids
- TGIC Polyesters
- Urethanes
Ask one of our powder coating pros which would be the best finish to use on your metal and we will happily answer and provide an explanation.