FAQ’s / What is Powder Coating
Powder coating makes your product look more professional and commands higher price. Many customers specify or demand powder coating for its superior performance.
Q. What items can be Powder Coated?
A. Any electrically conductive metal or material that can withstand 400° F temperature without losing its integrity.
Q. How do you prepare parts for Powder Coating?
A. Surface must be perfectly clean, typically metal surface exposed with no contaminants. Oil must be thoroughly removed. GPC does this preparation for you. Before you bring the parts to us, please remove any rubber, plastics, gaskets, bearings, and other parts that are sensitive to 400° F temperature including excess oil and grease. For example, bring your rims without tires and valve stems.
Q. Why should I use Powder Coating?
A. Powder coated product simply looks better. It’s more durable than liquid paint, more chip resistant, has superior adhesion, is less expensive than liquid paint of comparable performance, environmentally friendly, chemically resistant, and ready to use as soon as a part has cooled down
Q. Is there a Powder Coating process that resembles chrome?
A. Yes, the powder coating “Near Chrome” is very comparable, however you lose the mirror effect with the finished product.
Q. Can you clear coat with Powder?
A. Yes!
Q. Can you strip paint?
A. Yes! We can Media Blast your parts for an additional charge.
Q. What colors and textures are available?
A. GPC has a good selection of colors and textures available in stock. Should you select a color not available in our stock we would be pleased to order it from a powder manufacturer. The powder coating industry has several hundred colors and textures available in stock.
Q. How large a part can you coat?
A. Flat: Approximately 50′ long x 12′ high. Three dimensional: Approximately 50′ x 12′ x 12′
Q. What is typically Powder Coated?
A. Any metal or conductive parts withstanding 400 F temperature and requiring resistant, aesthetically appealing coating against corrosion and oxidization. Powder coating is extensively used by the appliance, automotive, agricultural equipment, electronics, fabricated steel, fitness and sporting goods equipment, furniture, garden equipment, medical equipment, office equipment and store fixture industries.
Q. What determines cost?
A. Number of pieces (piece cost decreases as the number of parts increases per batch), stripping required, masking required, color (non-stock colors are more expensive), texture, piece weight and maximum material thickness are the main factors affecting cost.
Q. Do you handle small jobs?
A. Yes!
Q. What imperfections will Powder Coating cover up?
A. Powder coating can cover minor scratches and small imperfections. Smooth glossy powders are the most demanding and matte or textured powders the most forgiving for surface preparation. However, Powder Coating will not make up for poor workmanship. As with any coating, the end result is only as good as the surface it was applied on.
Q: What is the turnaround time? Can you have it finished sooner?
A: We like to have 3 working days on standard colors. In the event that a custom color is selected, it may be as many as 15 working days. Expedited pricing is available upon request.