Powder Coating Sheet Metal Screws

I want to find out if powder coating 302 stainless steel sheet metal screws that have a square recess would be more durable than painting the heads with polyurethene enamel. The fasteners will be visible in an exterior colored decking system and must not chip off during installation.

Jeff:

An epoxy powder will certainly provide you with good adhesion on properly pretreated stainless steel. However, deck screws typically have small recess drives and adequate penetration into the recess with powder will be difficult.

I do know that millions of deck screws are being coated daily in many different colors using the dip spin process. This process can have the tendency to fill recesses but if processed properly with the right equipment, headfill is negligible.

I think this process will meet your requirments for appearance (once the appropriate color is formulated) and you find some additional advantages as decreased drill times.

DEAR JEFF

WE HAVE BEEN PAINTING 410 AND 18.8 STAINLESS SCREWS (JUST THE HEADS) FOR OVER 12 YEARS NOW AND PAINTING STEEL ZINC SCREW SINCE 1975. WET PAINT AND WE ARE JUST STARTING TO POWDER COAT SCREWS OF ALL KINDS FROM MY CUSTOMERS THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT POWDER IS MORE DURABLE THEN WET.

I HOPE I HELPED HAVE A GREAT DAY