Trying to decide between powder coating and wet paint for your sheet metal fabricated part?
At All Powder Coat & Screen, we always recommend powder coating over wet paint for sheet metal finishing. Here are six reasons why.
Powder coating is considerably more economical than paint, primarily due to differences in purchasing and waste management protocols.
When you order wet paint through a sheet metal finishing company, you’re charged for the full batch regardless of how much is actually used on your parts. The same goes for the primer required for the wet paint application process.
Because the shelf life of paint is only about 3-6 months, your finishing company won’t be able to distribute the product across multiple jobs until it’s all been used. Instead, they’ll need to pay for paint and primer disposal—and that cost is passed on to you.
In contrast, powder coating has a shelf life of around two years. One box of powder can be used for several jobs, so you are typically only charged for the powder your order requires. It’s also important to note that with powder, you won’t need a primer, which increases your potential savings.
Since wet paint contains chemicals that can harm the environment, it must be disposed of externally through an EPA-approved vendor.
Powder, on the other hand, can be heated up to harden which then disintegrates on its own over time. This requires no special disposal process and poses minimal risk to the environment.
Paint and powder differ considerably when it comes to the safety of their respective application processes. As paint is applied, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gas, exposing sheet metal finishing employees to toxic fumes.
Powder coating, however, creates no fumes as it is applied, allowing team members to work in a pollutant-free environment.
Wet paint finishes are vulnerable to chipping and corrosion, whereas powder coating creates a thicker, more durable coat that can withstand significant wear and tear.
This durability is due in part to the high-heat curing technique used during the powder coating process, which enables an incredibly strong level of adhesion. Powder coating outperforms paint time after time, and certain powder types, such as polyester and hybrid, offer ultimate durability.
In a perfect world, an expert sheet metal finishing job looks great no matter what—whether a shop uses wet paint or powder. In reality, though, the appearance of paint can vary considerably depending on the degree of part preparation and the finisher’s skill level. Paint is prone to leaving drip marks and is vulnerable to becoming compromised by external elements such as airborne dust particles.
High-quality powder coating, on the other hand, is a consistently repeatable process—even if the parts aren’t perfectly prepared and the environment isn’t strictly controlled. Applying powder coating is far more foolproof than painting, enabling sheet metal finishing companies to achieve the same flawless results from one part to the next.
Waiting for paint to dry is notoriously tedious. When you choose wet paint, it can take several hours for your parts to dry enough to be packed and delivered.
Powder coated parts dry much faster—within just a few minutes of application by being heated. As soon as the parts cool down from curing, we can get them on their way to their destination.
At All Powder Coat & Screen, we’re passionate about the powder coating services we provide and will continue to share the many advantages of powder coating here and on our social media channels. Contact us today to request a quote!
Click the button below, fill out the form, include a STEP file & PDF print and click Submit, or call us now at (972) 747-1231. Please note, a minimum order of $500 is required.
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