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Powder coating and media blasting questions, answered
Short, straight answers. If yours is not here, call (403) 348-8308 and ask.
The basics
What is powder coating?
A dry powder is sprayed onto clean metal, held on by a static charge, then baked in an oven at 200°C. The powder melts and cures into a hard, even finish.
What is media blasting?
Abrasive media driven by compressed air strips rust, mill scale and old coatings off metal and leaves a clean, textured surface that a new coating can grip. We use steel grit, shot and garnet.
Is blasting necessary before powder coating?
Rust and old coatings have to come off so the powder bonds to clean metal, and blasting is how we take them off. Tell us about your part and we'll tell you what prep it needs.
How long does powder coating last?
It depends on the coating, the prep and how the part is used. Tell us where the part will live and we'll suggest a coating system for it.
Cost and timing
How much does powder coating cost?
Most jobs are priced on size, prep and colour, and there are too many variables for a price list. See the cost guide for what moves the price, or send photos or measured drawings for an estimate.
How long does it take?
It depends on the size of the job and the prep it needs. Our lead times run 1 to 2 weeks. Call us and we'll give you a time for yours.
How fast will I get a quote?
Call (403) 348-8308, or send photos or measured drawings on the quote form below and we'll get back to you.
What we can coat
How big a part can you coat?
Up to 32 feet long, 12 feet wide and 11 feet high, and up to 15,000 lb per oven load. Every number is on the shop and equipment page.
What metals can you coat?
Most any ferrous or non-ferrous metal, including steel, aluminum, stainless and plate galvanized. The one exception is chrome. The part has to take 200°C in the oven.
Can you powder coat aluminum?
Yes. Aluminum is media blasted with garnet in its own room, so steel dust never touches it. Aluminum gives off oils when it is blasted, so before coating we pre-heat it to burn those oils off. Then it is coated and cured.
Can you powder coat over rust, old paint or old powder?
We do not coat over them. Old finishes and rust are blasted off first so the new coating bonds to clean metal.
What cannot be powder coated?
Wood, plastic and chrome parts. Everything else has to come in ready: free of dirt, grease and oil, with grease nipples, bearings and seals taken off. Fuel tanks must be thoroughly cleaned first, usually by steaming.
Blasting
Do you blast without coating?
Yes. We blast parts for customers who paint or finish them elsewhere.
What blast media do you use?
Steel grit and shot for ferrous parts, garnet for non-ferrous parts, and aluminum oxide in a blast cabinet for smaller, delicate parts.
Do you blast indoors or outdoors?
Both blast rooms are heated and indoors, so we blast all year.
How do I remove powder coating?
Bring it in. Old powder comes off in the blast room or the burn off oven.
Dropping off
Where are you and when are you open?
8319 Chiles Industrial Ave #160, Red Deer. Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
How should I prepare my parts?
Take them apart, remove anything that cannot take heat, and tell us the metal. The full list is on prepare your parts.