Powder coating is one new and highly effective way to finish metal surfaces. It is the electrostatic application of powder paint on a surface, followed by heat curing. Most people prefer powder coating to other types of finishes because surfaces coated with powder are more appealing and more resistant to chipping, wearing, and fading. However, if you want to get the best out of your powder coating process, you need to prepare the surface to be coated properly beforehand. Here are the three crucial steps to follow when preparing a surface for powder coating. 

Blasting the Surface

One of the most effective ways to clean the surface before applying the powder coating is through blasting. Sandblasting is one of the most common ways to handle the cleaning process. In sandblasting, the surface to be cleaned is blasted with a stream of abrasive sand, which dislodges dirt, grime and other debris from the surface of the metal. Sand blasting also helps when the surface in question has a layer of paint. The important thing to do before sandblasting is to properly cover the areas which do not need to be powder coated beforehand.

Washing the Surface

The second way to clean metallic surfaces is by using pressure cleaning. Pressure washing is done with cleaning agents which correspond with the materials you use for your fabricating process. When you clean the surface with steam, you remove any greasy and oily deposits which may be stuck on the metal. Steaming also removes wax and other compounds which water alone cannot effectively remove. 

Pre-treatment Process

Cleaning alone will not prepare the surface in question well for the powder coating. If you want excellent results, you have to follow it up with a pre-treatment. Pre-treatment is a process whose aim is to help the paint adhere well to the metallic surface without further erosion. For instance, a metal like aluminium in its natural state is very slick, and it might not take powder coating well. It is pre-treated with etching, a process that makes the use of acid to ensure that the coat adheres better. Phosphating is another form of pre-treatment whose aim is to improve the metals resistance to corrosion.

These are some of the simple ways in which you can prepare a surface for powder coating. It is crucial to remember that the condition of the metal before you apply the coating determines how well it will take the coating. Take time and get an expert to clean and pre-treat the metal for the best results.