Powder coat paint offers durability and resistance against corrosion, chipping, weathering and fading. However, special care must be taken with it, as harsh cleaners or solvents could damage it irreparably.
To prepare the surface for painting, lightly sand it with light-grade sandpaper until a rougher texture has been created. This helps improve adhesion between paint and powder coating and improves adhesion of new coats of color.
Powder Coat – Priming
Powder coating is an extremely long-term and durable form of paint, but requires special care in order to remain looking its best. Applying a coat of wax every three months or so will protect and enhance its shine, helping the coating look its best while also keeping its integrity protected.
Some metal surfaces require primers in order to form the strongest bond possible between their primer and powder coat, particularly outdoor installations and aquatic environments where corrosion could pose a risk. Primer powder coats have proven highly effective at protecting steel, chrome, iron and aluminum products against corrosion.
Some powder coatings can be applied without using a primer base coat; however, most applications call for its use. Textured powder coatings must go directly onto their substrate without an initial primer base coat as this would interfere with their ability to form textures properly.
Powder Coating Cleaning
Although powder coatings are exceptionally long-wearing and resistant to scratches and corrosion, their metal surfaces eventually deteriorate over time due to environmental elements like dirt, grime, salt deposits and pollution accumulating on them. Therefore it is vital that regularly clean this powder coated surface.
For optimal results, cleaning powder coat surfaces should be completed using non- corrosive cleaners and water. A soft cloth should be saturated with cleaning solution before being wrung out to absorb it before wiping over the powder coated surface.
Do not spray cleaner directly onto powder coating as doing so could damage its protective layers leading to early erosion and possible disintegration of coating layers.
Clean the surface regularly to prevent build-up of contaminants, particularly if exposed to direct sunlight or high levels of UV radiation, for aesthetic as well as safety purposes. Powder coated surfaces should ideally be cleaned every three months to maintain aesthetic quality as well as ensure the safety of anyone coming into contact with it.
Powder Coating Polishing
Powder coating is an excellent way to maintain items’ pristine appearance and adds several advantages over regular paint, such as corrosion resistance and durability. But even durable items may wear down over time due to use and weather exposure.
To keep your powder coated item looking its best, polish it on occasion using non- abrasive, powder-specific wax. Be sure to read through and understand its label to make sure that it will work for your type of finish.
Powder coating metal items is an excellent way to give them an aesthetic finish; however, it may not always be appropriate. Some items, like metal bollards designed for functionality rather than aesthetics, don’t require flawless coating to pass end-of-line quality control testing but do need to be free from surface defects that could compromise functionality or warranty status; in such instances, liquid paint application might be more appropriate as this process requires more prep work but still provides many of the same advantages as powder coating.
Waxing
Powder coating may be long-lasting, but regular maintenance is necessary to keep it looking its best. Start by regularly washing down the metal surface with mild soap and water to eliminate grime build-up, then applying a thin layer of wax similar to what you would use on your car in order to add shine and maintain its sheen.
Or you could opt for color-matched liquid enamels to hide imperfections in the car’s finish, such as hook marks, missed areas, Faraday areas, rewelds, sanded spots or handling damage.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that paint may not adhere properly to powder coated surfaces and could adversely impact performance. Furthermore, many customers have specific standards regarding the appearance of their finished products so it’s wise to inspect powder coated parts thoroughly prior to using any kind of paint to repair them – especially if there’s a warranty attached to them.