When manufacturing or restoring metal parts, the finish you apply will affect the part’s appearance, durability, and resistance to conditions like moisture. Two popular options are sandblasting and powder coating. Both have advantages, and a combined approach is a common choice. Here’s what you need to know about each one.

Powder Coating

Powder coating is a process that allows you to coat a metal part with a finish similar to a coat of paint. However, the coating is a more uniform thickness with a smoother surface than if you’d used paint, and the process doesn’t require liquid solvents like paint does. 

To achieve these results, your provider will place your part in an environment where it’s grounded, meaning an electric current running through it can reach the ground. They’ll then use a special spray gun to spray dry powder over the part. The tiny particles of powder have an electric charge and are attracted to the grounded part; once they touch it, they bond with the surface. The coating can be glossy or matte and comes in any color.

Sandblasting

Sandblasting also uses a spray of small particles, but in this case, instead of a microscopic charged coating material, the particles are fragments of something hard such as silica sand, copper, or walnut shell. The sandblasting equipment sprays these particles out forcefully, so they can scour and even etch a metal surface, depending on the fineness and type of material used. 

An etched surface, or a pattern of smooth and etched designs, can be all you need to finish some types of metal parts. In many cases, though, sandblasting is an intermediate step. The abrasives can remove rust, corrosion, old paint, grease, and other materials from the surface of a metal part, preparing it for powder coating. Trying to coat a dirty or corroded surface would make the coating bubble and crack.

For a variety of surface treatment options, including both sandblasting and powder coating, choose Gateway Powder Coating in O’Fallon, MO. Serving the Saint Louis area, they are the only local company that offers powder coating, using an 8' x 10' x 20' curing oven to ensure they can fit almost any part. Call (636) 486-2428 or visit their website to discuss your project.