Touching Up Powder Coating

It’s tough, it looks great, and it lasts a long, long time. In addition to being durable, powder coating is an attractive choice due to its environmental advantages. For example, powder-coated metal products are more resistant to moisture, chemicals, ultraviolet light, and other extreme weather conditions. The coating acts as a protective layer that reduces the risk of scratches, chipping, abrasions, corrosion, fading, and other wear issues. Ultimately, touching up powder coating when it’s chipped is essential to the longevity of your product. Plus, it’s exceedingly simple to do.

What Is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is a painting technique that is used on aluminum handrails and many other factory-made metal items. This coating is often preferred by businesses and customers alike, because it provides a visually appealing finish. Moreover, the coating adds a scratch-resistant layer to the aluminum, further protecting handrails from the wear-and-tear of general use and outdoor elements.

Over time your powder coating may become scratched or damaged, however, leaving an unsightly mark on your handrail. While it can be tempting to touch up the damaged, powder-coated surface with regular paint, don’t. Powder coatings require a specific paint and procedure to ensure the handrail is properly protected from further damage.

Why Touch Up Your Powder-Coated Finish?

Touching up powder coating on handrails and other metal objects has many benefits, including the following:

Visual Appeal

This is the obvious reason for fixing a powder-coated finish. In general, handrails are for function and form. A visually pleasing handrail with the perfect finish affects the overall look of your indoor or outdoor space.

Performance

Powder coatings are also applied to provide a layer of protection. To supply adequate protection, the coating must meet certain standards. A defect in your coating can compromise the finish integrity and cause the metal underneath to rust or weaken. Touching up powder coating can prevent this damage and prolong the life of your product.

Warranty

If your powder-coated metal product has any sort of warranty, then special care should be made to make sure the object passes testing. Touching up powder coating can extend the life of your warranty and help you avoid repair or rework.

Touching Up Powder Coating

Before you begin and as you touch up your powder-coated product, keep the following in mind:

• Some touch-up paints can cause incompatibility problems. You’ll save yourself a lot of headache if you contact your powder-coating formulator first. Ask the customer representative what kind of touch-up liquid paint or touch-up spray paint formulation will work with their original powder coating.
• Evaluate if the touch-up area needs further preparation before painting, such as sanding or filling scratches. A 500-grit sandpaper swatch will help remove any paint-resistant material left on the surface of your aluminum and will properly prepare the surface for paint.
• Clean the affected area after all sanding and mechanical work has been performed. This might involve simply wiping the affected area with a solvent, like paint thinner, and a clean rag. If using paint thinner, be sure to wait an hour for it to dry.
• Finally, apply a complete and even coat of the touch-up paint. Use multiple coats if necessary. Allow each coat of paint to dry for at least 30 minutes before applying another coat. For best results, let the final coat dry for at least 24 hours before touching the surface.

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At Aluminum Handrail Direct, we’re committed to providing high-quality aluminum handrails that are durable, maintenance-free, affordable, and attractive. If you have questions about touching up powder coating or are searching for a handrail system that’s perfect for your needs, visit Aluminum Handrail Direct’s online store today. We offer touch-up paint in a pen or bottle, touch-up spray paint, and three-part aerosol spray in a variety of neutral colors.