FAQ

What is powder coating?

Powder coating is a dry finishing process, where the coating is applied as a free-flowing dry powder. Unlike liquid paint, powder coating does not require solvents to ensure that the filler and binder parts remain in a liquid state. Finely ground particles of pigment and resin are electrostatically charged and sprayed onto products. The parts to be coated are electrically grounded, so that the charged particles adhere to them until melted and fused into a solid coating in a curing oven. This forms a skin, with a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint.

What are the advantages and benefits?

Powder coating produces an attractive, durable, high-quality finish, which serves to increase the life of your product. Powder coated surfaces are more resistant to chipping, scratching, chemicals, fading, and general wear and tear than other finishes.

Why is it better than paint?

Surfaces that are powder coated are less likely to scratch, chip or fade than paint or other finishes and are more resistant to wear and tear over time. Powder coating is also more environmentally friendly than liquid paint, since no solvents are used in the process and no pollutants are released into the air. Powder coating finishes last much longer than liquid paint applications, and only require a single application.

How long does it last?

The life of a powder coating depends on the surface prep and pre treatment of the substrate that is being coated. A steel gate that has been sandblasted, primed and top coated will outlast a gate where the instructions were simply to “make it black”.

The life of the coating depends on the application. For corrosion and abrasion coatings, two months may suffice, however two to three is not unusual. For outdoor applications, five to seven years with minimal colour and gloss reduction is normal, however for patio furniture, rust may occur at welds within one or two years. For electrical applications such as busbars, coatings may last as long as ten to fifteen years.

In general, the life expectancy of powder coating is longer than paint, making it a more reliable finish.

What kind of products can be powder coated?

At Rite-Way Powder Coating, we mostly service the fencing and construction industries, but any bare metal products can be powder coated. These include auto parts, display frames, light fixtures, patio furniture, store and warehouse shelving and many other products that require the strength, durability and impact resistance of powder coating.

Are there different types of powder?

Epoxy

Epoxy coatings are the technology of choice for high performance applications. Combining outstanding salt spray resistance and excellent chemical performance with exceptional film hardness, epoxy coatings are often selected for functional or corrosion inhibiting applications such as industrial equipment, under-hood automotive, pipe coatings, or primers. They are not UV stable and must be top coated if used outside.

Hybrid

With the mechanical film properties of an epoxy, but featuring the over bake stability of polyester, hybrid technology is an excellent solution. Hybrid powder coatings provide the benefit of both technologies with exceptional electrostatic spray characteristics that improve penetration into corners and recessed areas. However, they are not UV stable and are used for interior applications only.

Polyester Urethane

Combining superior resistance to weathering and UV light with a high definition finish, urethanes are an excellent choice for finishing lawn and gardening equipment, outdoor furniture, electronic enclosures, and automotive components.

Polyester

With excellent colour and gloss retention, excellent over bake stability, and superior mechanical properties, polyester coatings are the optimal choice when coating a large variety of applications, including lawn and garden equipment, fencing, metal building products and heavy equipment.

Rite-Way Powder Coating will help you choose the proper powder chemistry for your application.

What choice of colours do you have?

There are hundreds of colours to choose from, including Ral colours, high, semi, and low gloss, metallic and clear coats. Custom colours and colour matching is available upon request.

What is the maximum size and weight you can powder coat?

Our oven is 8’h x 8’w x 21’l and we can handle up to 1000 lbs.

How long does the process take?

Turnaround time can vary throughout the year, since we are very busy in the spring and fall. We work with our customers to operate within their schedules, to insure timely completion of their orders.

Can you remove previous finishes through either the chemical or sandblasting process?

We provide sandblasting and chemical stripping to remove old finishes, rust and scale. Contact Rite-Way Powder Coating for more details.