People often ask if we do powder coating and painting inhouse. The short answer is yes, we powder coat in house, but we do not liquid (L) paint. So why don’t we L paint inhouse as well? The answer to that question can be found by understanding the difference between powder coating and L painting and then applying that understanding to the customers we serve.
Powder coating begins by spraying a powder onto a surface that needs finishing. The powder adheres to the surface by way of an electro-static charge. This powder could be made up of polyester, epoxy, acrylic, or polyurethane depending on the need. The powder is then heated in an oven to form a uniform, thick shiny color coat.
In comparison to L painting, powder coating is harder, thicker, and longer lasting than L paint. In addition, much of the powder used during the spray process adheres to the surface that is being coated. Powder that doesn’t adhere can be reused in the future. This type of durability and conservation cannot be achieved with L painting. With L paint, it is harder to achieve an overall consistent, even-coat thickness and over time will need touch up. L paint is susceptible to scratches which leads to rust and during the painting process, wasteful overspray is created that is lost in the wind.
With the many projects DSI is involved with, the majority require a more durable, long-lasting finish. The choice to offer powder coating over L paint was based on a few major benefits. These include:
- Durability: The thick, hard, consistent surface finish of powder coating is superior to L paint.
- Consistency: Powder coating achieves a more consistent, smooth, and solid coat of finish compared to L paint which may drip, spread, and dry unevenly when applied.
- Quick Application: Powder coating can be applied quickly with one coat. L painting often requires base coats and multiple topcoats.
With the above in mind, DSI invested in quality powder coating equipment in 2017. Today DSI provides customers with the best in quality, durable, and affordable metal finishing. With three (3) Parker Ionics batch booths, Gema OptiFlex Pro Powder guns, three (3) Rapid Engineering Ovens (9 x 10 x 10), a PEM spraylean 2 stage wash with RO halo’s and a manual wash bay that handles up to 10’ long parts, DSI is equipped to handle most powder coating applications.
DSI can apply powder coating to mild steel, galvanized and electroplated steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and most other steel alloys. If you have any questions about your project’s finishing needs, contact DSI at 763-428-4321 – we are experts at powder coating for machining and metal fabrication applications.