Replies

1. 
   Floss | Jul 14, 2004 12:50am | #1

   Dark Magneto,

   When I used to manage an apartment complex I had to repaint the fire escapes that were all steel. I had them sand blasted, then hired a welder to make necessary repairs, sprayed with an industrial tank primer(fancy name for red metal primer) and two top coats of black alkyd top-coat. Still looks good after 10 years, only a few spots of rust coming through. I looked into powder coating, seemd like a better proposition since I don't like painting, however the budget would not allow. Powder coating has no overspray and you don't have to paint. However if you want to save money then paint it yourself with a good oil based primer and two top coats. Definitely get it sand blasted, works great and saves time/money.

   J.P.

1. 
   Ardito | Jul 14, 2004 12:57am | #2

   J.P.,

   Thanks for the advice!  The $$$ was the only concern I had with the powder coating.  He wants $125 to prime and powder coat both hand rails.  I have never had much success with painting "wet" paint on the scroll work and always runs and builds up.  The idea of someone powder coating it and having it look perfect is really a plus, but not sure if it is worth $125. 

   The railings are outside (Chicago).  How does powder coating handle in the cold Chicago winters?  Will it rust quicker than regular oil-based paint?

   Cheers!Dark Magneto

1. 
   Floss | Jul 14, 2004 02:43am | #3

   The fire escape is in Columbus Ohio, close to Chicago, but the winters are much more mild. I rented a sprayer and thinned the coats with 10% mineral spirits. I think that the success has to do with sand blasting and getting to bare metal with a slight roughness to the surface. However I would be willing to pay $125 in order to avoid the mess and hastle of painting.

   J.P.

2. 
   JerraldHayes | Jul 14, 2004 03:29am | #4

   Dark Magneto" The idea of someone powder coating it and having it look perfect is really a plus, but not sure if it is worth $125. "

   What! Ya gotta be kidding me. Take it. That price is so low (and for such a small job too) I would be wondering if the guy really knew what he is doing with his pricing. I might even hire the guy and fly him here to to do work for us and it would still be cheaper than what I can get it done around here for.

   P.S. For references sakes how much is he charging your for the sand blasting?

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   ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com

   Edited 7/13/2004 8:32 pm ET by Jerrald Hayes

1. 
   Ardito | Jul 14, 2004 05:38am | #8

   Jerrald,

   He is charging $200 for the sand blasting and then $125 to prime and powder coat.  He can get away with this price because he waits until he has A LOT of work to do and then does it all at once.  The turn around is 1-2 weeks for the railings, but I think I am going to do it. 

   The thought of painting all of that railing and scroll work really sucks and I don't think I am that good of a painter to do it.  The idea of someone powder coating it to make it look perfect is really appealing. 

   Thanks for all of your comments.  I am taking the railing off the porch tomorrow and sending it off to get blasted and coated!

   Cheers!Dark Magneto

2. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 14, 2004 03:38am | #5

   If this is true powder coating the railing is done in their shop. It has to go through a oven to fuse the powder.

   But powder coating is the way to do. Almost all metal products designed to be used outdoors now days are powder coated. Railing, gate hardware, pation furniture, etc.

3. 
   donpapenburg | Jul 14, 2004 03:56am | #6

   Get it blasted .. But you have to remove it too get it powder coated  as it has to be baked at about 400 deg.

   You can't beat the powdercoat though. It will cover every crevice  and with a very even coating .                             My opinion of rustolium is that it is just slightly better than rust . Color fades fast and it doesnot stop rust. Unless they have made it better since I used it last .

4. 
   caseyr | Jul 14, 2004 04:13am | #7

   I would say that the powder coating should stand up significantly better than standard paint.  If I remember correctly, the process of applying powder coating is  to use an electrostatic process to apply the pigmented powder coating and then bake the item in an oven to melt and fuse the power coating to the metal. 

   The powder coating material is similar to that used in paint but does not use a solvent base.   When the the solvent from paint evaporates, it vents through small, microscopic pores that also allows oxygen and water vapor to enter.  The powder coating does not have these small pores so does a much better job of blocking oxygen and water vapor from the metal that is being protected. 

   Places like Harbor Freight and Eastwood Company sell powder coating kits(Eastwood, of course, being significantly more expensive).  Unfortunately, you will need an oven big enough for whatever piece you want to coat - and they recommend that you not use an oven that will subsequently be used for food preparation.  I hope to get myself an old oven one of these days and playing around with the process...