Industrial & Manufacturing Blog
The technique that is used to finish sheet metal products during fabrication plays a significant role in determining the appearance, durability, and resistance of the metal product to corrosion from weather elements. Among the most common techniques used are powder coating and wet painting. The outcome of these two methods is quite distinct, and it is essential to choose the best one for your metal products. Read on for a comparison between wet painting and powder coating as a guideline to enable you to choose the ideal one for sheet metal finishing.
Coat performance
Powder coating is among the thickest types of coats available today. One coat is enough to cover the metal sufficiently; hence, incidences of reworking powder coating are minimal. Powder coating is highly resistant to scratching, chipping, fading, and the effects of chemicals and weather elements. It is incredibly durable and can protect metal products from corrosion and rust.
On the other hand, wet paint requires at least two or more coats to achieve a thick and even finish, enough to cover all the areas of the metal. Sometimes, the coats may be too thick or uneven, and this will call for a repeat of the project. Paint is quite durable, but it is susceptible to fading when exposed to UV radiation. Also, when scratched, it can expose the metal to weather elements and leave it vulnerable to corrosion.
Environmental and safety considerations
During the application of powder coating, workers are required to wear protective clothing to ensure that they do not inhale the powder or let it come into contact with the skin. Other than that, the product is nontoxic and non-volatile. It does not contain any VOCs or solvents which are harmful to the environment. Extra powder coating can be reused or disposed of in landfills without posing an environmental hazard.
Wet paints contain solvents, and some types also comprise of VOCs which are harmful to the environment and humans when inhaled. Paints are flammable and should be handled correctly to prevent the risk of a fire. During finishing, paints should not be inhaled as they can cause respiratory complications.
Finishing costs
The cost of finishing sheet metal will be substantially dependent on the size of the project and the expertise of the metal fabricator. However, based on the properties of the two techniques, powder coating may be cheaper since instances of reworking are minimal. Unlike paint, you will only require only one coat; therefore, little of the powder coat will be used as compared to wet paint.
Powder coating is evidently a better sheet metal finishing technique as compared to wet paint. If you have been using wet paint for your metal products, consider switching to powder coating for all the benefits outlined.
Share15 September 2016
If you work in or run an industrial or manufacturing facility, safety is key. In this blog, we are going to talk a lot about safety. However, we are also going to veer into other aspects of these industries as well. There will be posts directed toward consumers, business owners, workers and many others. Before you start reading, let me introduce myself. My name is Steve. I used to volunteer at an animal refuge where I put together a lot of buildings and frequently visited sheet metal processing facilities, fence manufacturing companies and similar businesses. I was incredibly interested in what they did so I decided to create this blog. Thank you for reading.
