Summary for rust resistant finish Discussion
rust resistant finish for wire mesh is the core issue here: Randy V. asked for a durable coating for a large wire mesh container used to hold heavy brake and strut parts, noting that powder coating had not performed well and that paint chips could not be tolerated. Michel Moninger cautioned that the failure of powder coating may not mean powder is the wrong approach; he said pretreatment is critical and the powder choice matters, citing a boat-show example where a polyester powder coating stayed intact even when beaten with a steel pipe. Scott Whitehurst agreed and added that containers like this can be successfully coated when they are properly cleaned, coated with the correct powder, and not over-cured. The thread does not name an alternative finish, but it suggests the problem may be process and material selection rather than powder coating itself.
Q. I am looking for a durable rust resistant finish for a 40″ x 48″ x 33″ wire mesh container. Powder coating has not performed well. Parts in the basket can weigh 50#. They are brake and strut parts that can’t have paint chips.
Randy V [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
– Willoughby, Ohio, USA
2001
A. Saying that powder hasn’t worked may not be telling the whole story. Pretreatment can be critical to proper adhesion, but choice of powder can also be paramount.
At a boat show a few years ago, one of the powder manufacturers had a flying bridge coated with their polyester powder (I think it was Tiger Drylac). They provided you with a steel pipe with which to beat the coated flying bridge. As you can imagine, it was a popular booth, just for getting the aggression out. Amazingly, none of the powder had chipped off. Where the tubing of the bridge was deformed, the coating was still intact and adhering nicely.
Not to say powder is the answer, just to say that “not powder” may not be the answer either.
Michel Moninger
– Sarasota, Florida, USA
2001
A. I agree with Mr. Moninger. We currently coat containers such as you have described. Properly cleaned and coated products and the using the correct powder are key. Perhaps your product was over cured also.
Scott Whitehurst
– Holland, Michigan, US.
2001