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Frequently
Asked Questions |
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- What is Powder
Coating?
- Why Choose Powder Coating?
- How Are Parts
Prepped For Powder Coating?
- Should I Sand/Strip
Excess Paint?
- What If The Parts Currently Have A Chrome
Finish?
- What If The Parts Are Pitted From Rust
or Corrosion?
- Can Plastic Pieces Be Powder Coated?
- Will Powder Coat Flex With Items Like
Automotive Coil Springs?
- What Specific Items Do Customers Send
In For Powder Coating?
- Can Powder Coat
Withstand Engine Temperatures?
- Is Powder Coat Resilient To Gasoline,
Oil, Battery Acid?
- Does KPC Offer Custom Colors Such As
"Candies or Chrome"?
- How Does Powder Coating Compare In Cost
vs. "Wet" Paints?
- What If I Do Not Live Close Enough To
Drop Off The Parts?
- Do I Need To Disassemble The Parts Before
Sending Them?
- I'm Interested In The "Parts On
Exchange". How Does This Work?
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1.
What is Powder Coating?
Powder coating, commonly referred
to as "dry" paint, is a method of applying a decorative
and protective finish to most all metallic parts.
The powder is a combination of finely ground particles
of color pigment and resin. When applied, the
powder is electrostatically charged using a special
gun while the parts are electrostatically grounded.
The powder uniformly adheres to the part which
is then placed in an oven to cure. The result
is a smooth, lustrous coating that is extremely
durable, scratch and chip resistant.
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2.
Why
Choose Powder Coating?
Powder coating is currently the single
fastest growing finishing technology. Powder coating
is much more resilient to chips, abrasions, UV
light, automotive fuels such as gasoline, oil,
and heat up to 350 degrees compared to ordinary
“wet” paints. Since it is electrostatically applied,
powder coating eliminates the possibility of runs
and drips. The powder is environmentally friendly
and there are no hazardous materials needed for
cleanup.
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3.
How Are Parts Prepped For Powder Coating?
Depending on the condition the
part is received, it will first need to be stripped
of all coatings down to the bare metal. We will
need to degrease the item before running it
through our sand blaster. If the part arrives
already powder coated, we will need to chemically
strip the coating before it can be sandblasted.
The reason for this is because powder coat is
so tough that sandblasting will not remove it.
We will then pre-bake the part to release any
gas pockets in the metal. Then the part will
be cleaned one last time before being coated.
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4.
Should I Sand/Strip Excess Paint?
For most all paints it is not worth
your time. We at KPC have all equipment necessary
to fully strip all coatings down to bare metal.
If you are considering sending in parts that
already have a powder coating, you will need
to contact us for a price quote.
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5.
What If The Parts Currently Have A Chrome Finish?
With the aluminum oxide media, we
will be able to blast away the old chrome layer
revealing the bare metal. We will clean the part
and then coat it. The result will be a part that
looks better than new!
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6.
What If The Parts Are Pitted From Rust or Corrosion?
Powder coat is approximately 2-3
times thicker than standard wet paints. After removing the
oxidation, we will give a heavy coat of powder.
This feature is great for covering
up small pitting, corrosion, rust and revealing
a smooth lustrous finish. Please view our Gallery
to see an example.
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7.
Can Plastic Pieces Be Powder Coated?
Since plastic is non conductive and
rarely can withstand 400 degrees, plastic is not
suited for powder coating. Upon request KPC will
coat a small 4x4 piece of tin and send it along
with your order. You will be able to take the
coated tin into any paint store that offers computer
color matching for an exact paint match to the
color of powder.
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8.
Will Powder Coat Flex With Items Like Automotive
Coil Springs?
Powder coating is one of the only
coatings that can withstand repetitive flexing
commonly found on automotive springs. There is
an example of two front coil springs that were
coated in our Gallery.
Most springs will already have a powder coated
layer from the factory. We can clean up the look
of the old springs by adding a vibrant new color.
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9.
What Specific Items Do Customers Send In For Powder
Coating?
KPC is proud to specialize in automotive
powder coating. Most of our customers are looking
to personalize their vehicle by adding some color
and durability to intakes, valve covers, battery
trays, small brackets, wheels, brake & suspension
components. We also have motorcycle, jet ski,
and snowmobile enthusiasts that want to add style
and function to their machines. Since most liquid
paints can not withstand corrosive salt water,
we are seeing many new customers that are turning
to the new technology of powder coating to satisfy
their needs.
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10.
Can Powder Coat Withstand Engine Temperatures?
We have received numerous emails
asking this question. We stock only the highest
grade indoor/outdoor powder. Our powder coating
works excellent on all types of engine components.
The only component that is limited to a special
hi-temp black powder is the exhaust manifolds.
Since the exhaust can reach in upwards of 1000
degrees, standard powder is not designed for that
application.
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11.
Is Powder Coat Resilient To Gasoline, Oil, Battery
Acid?
Powder coat is an extremely resilient
to all kinds of corrosive agents. Many of our
customers are turning to powder coating because
standard liquid paints are just not holding up.
One such item that is a great candidate for powder
coating is a battery tray for automobiles. You
can see a great example in our Gallery.
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12.
Does KPC Offer Custom Colors Such As "Candies
or Chrome"?
We are proud to offer many custom
colors such as Candy Blue, Candy Red, Mirror Chrome
and Mirror Black just to name a few. There are
great examples found in our Gallery.
If you have a custom color in mind, drop us an
email with a detailed
description of the part and the colors requested.
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13.
How Does Powder Coating Compare In Cost vs. "Wet"
Paints?
Powder coating offers many specialty
colors and textures not found with liquid paints.
Even with the powder specialty colors, the associated
costs are usually much less than that of liquid
paints. The reason is because with conventional
paints, a worker must first sand the area, then
multiple layers of primer would need to be sprayed
to "build up" a flat surface for the
final paint color. As you have read, powder
coat is approximately 2-3 times thicker than standard
liquid paints and is up to 10 times more durable.
Since powder coating is usually completed in just
1 layer, service costs are kept to a minimum.
There is also no need for hazardous chemicals
used in cleanup and the powder itself is
environmentally friendly. In the end, powder coating
is far superior in both cost and durability.
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14.
What If I Do Not Live Close Enough To Drop Off
The Parts?
At KPC, we take great care in packaging
and shipping of your parts. We recommend using
UPS, FedEx, or the U.S. Postal Service when
shipping your parts to be coated. We have a
UPS account which provides us with very reasonable
shipping rates. We gladly pass our savings over
to the customer.
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15.
Do I Need To Disassemble The Parts Before Sending
Them?
We kindly ask that all parts be disassembled
before shipping to us. If you have any questions
regarding what needs removed from a part, please
contact us. Be sure
to include a detailed description of the part.
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16.
I'm Interested In The "Parts On Exchange".
How Does This Work?
We realize that not all customers
have the luxury of driving another vehicle while
their parts are being sent out for powder coating.
That is why we started offering parts on "Exchange
Basis". We have over 50 different makes &
models of valve covers and many other various
vehicle components. For all parts on Exchange,
there is an associated core charge because we
are supplying the part. If you have any questions,
please read our Policies
Page or Contact Us
for more details.
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