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-----A Replacement For Plated Finishes
Please direct me to a paint or powder coating mfr. who makes coatings which provide a durable metallic finish which would replace metal plating operations with a very close color and appearance match. I am looking for opaque coatings which match bright and satin chrome, bright and satin stainless steel, and bright and satin brass finishes. I have been especially looking for powder coatings, but would consider virtually any alternatives to metal plating. The finishing standards we need to match, in appearance only, correspond to US26, US26D, US32, US32D, US3 and US4 (B.H.M.A. standards 625, 626, 629, 630, 632, and 633, respectively). The metal substrates would normally be either mild steel or aluminum, and would be pretreated or precoated as needed. Among the items being reviewed for the alternative finishes are several door knobs, handles and operators, and their associated trim pieces. The finishes must, thus, withstand much handling, cleaning, etc., as well as indoor / outdoor environmental exposure.
Michael Scheel- San Antonio, Texas
1999
There are some very beautiful powder coatings and other organic coatings that have been used on automobile wheels, plumbing fixtures, and other brightwork lately. I've seen them at shows, a huge range of such finishes. Certainly the satin finishes and brushed stainless finishes are the easier ones to imitate; organics don't really compare to bright chrome.
But you are not going to get your desired "durable metallic finish" from plastic, so don't work too hard to make it look plated! If you fool the customers, and they take a steel wool pad and scouring powder to it and ruin it, believing it was a plated finish, I personally believe that you owe them their money back.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
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