Does Powder Coating Fail?

It’s tough to top powder coating when it comes to a protective finish. On top of looking better than most paint jobs, powder coating is much longer lasting for a fantastic finish for years to come.

While the finish is incredibly durable, you can run into some powder coating quality issues if you’re not careful. Keep reading to learn more about powder coating failure.

Reasons powder coating fails

It doesn’t happen often (especially if you hire a reputable professional to apply your finish), but powder coating can fail. Here are a few of the reasons why it happens when it does:

• Insufficient prep work: Powder coating is bound to chip if the piece isn’t properly treated prior to applying the powder coating. Powder coating doesn’t adhere to smooth surfaces, which is why parts should be media blasted or chemically treated before powder coating.
• Too much powder: If the powder coating finish is too thick, individual layers will start to wear down and chip off. This is a slower process, but you’ll eventually be left with a piece of bare metal that’s exposed to the elements.
• Over- or under-curing: A powder-coated object goes through multiple curing stages while it’s in the oven. If the item is left in the oven for too long or not left in for long enough, the powder is bound to chip off. The part’s temperature also needs to be kept even throughout the entire process.
• Exposure to the elements: Prolonged exposure to sunlight, rain, snow and other elements can cause the powder to chip off down the road. Of course, this is only a concern if your object is left outdoors. Thankfully, as we’ll cover below, you can take steps to mitigate Mother Nature’s effects on your powder coating.

How to avoid powder coating issues

Getting started on the right foot and performing some basic maintenance can prevent powder coating quality issues. These are a few things to keep in mind:

• Hire a trained professional: The best way to avoid chips, scratches or other types of damage is to always hire a pro to powder coat your objects. From prep work to curing time, pros know all of the steps to prevent future failure.
• Keep everything clean: Cleanliness is next to godliness when it comes to avoiding powder coating issues. Make a habit of scrubbing off stuck-on debris and washing your powder-coated object down with mild soap when it gets dirty. You can even use a pressure washer to get this job done faster.
• Use protective waxes: After your object is clean and dry, apply a layer of protective car wax on top of it. Car wax defends against the elements we mentioned above, even damaging UV rays. Just be sure that the wax coat is applied thinly and evenly across the surface.

Always choose N.W. Metal Fabricators, Inc. for powder coating

Prevent all types of powder coating issues by hiring N.W. Metal Fabricators, Inc. for powder coating. With over 35 years of experience, you can trust that you’re in good hands when you choose us. Reach out to our team today to get your free estimate.

Categorised in: Powder Coating

This post was written by Writer