Powder Coating: Why is it necessary for your reel?

Surface finishing is essential for the practical use of metals. When left unprotected, the iron in these metals reacts with oxygen to form rust. This means that colorful exteriors aren’t just decorative—they are functional barriers that assist in corrosion prevention.

Metal parts can be finished with either powder coating or a wet paint process. While they serve a similar function, the powder coating finish method is increasingly popular in industrial applications, due to a multitude of factors.

So, which is the better finish for your reel: wet paint vs. powder coat?

Both coatings contain additives and color composition pigments. The major distinction is solvent: wet paint contains solvent, but powder coating does not. The solvent in wet paint keeps all the other components in suspended liquid form. In contrast, powder coating is applied as a dry powder.

For the powder coating process, dry powder is applied through an electrostatic gun on to the surface of the metal exterior. Once the coating reaches the desired thickness, the coated part is placed in a curing oven, where the heated powder gels, resulting in a smooth, durable finish.

The overall purpose for the finish on your reel is to protect the surface of the metal components from corrosion and other environmental damage. If the finish is damaged, it ceases to function as an effective barrier. Powder coating provides better performance than wet paint—it is more resistant to chipping, scratching, and other natural wear because of the thermal bonding it undergoes during curing, and because it can be applied in much thicker, more durable layers. In addition to its physical toughness, powder coating provides superior color retention. Long term exposure to moisture, sunlight, and heat breaks down the resins found in both paint and powder coating.

In addition to superior protection and performance for your reel, powder coating is also the safer coating option. Liquid paint is hazardous for several reasons. First of all, it’s highly flammable. Wet paint is also a health hazard to the operators that work with it. Because powder coatings do not contain any fluids to evaporate, they are free of the health and safety risks associated with wet paint.

Powder coating is not bullet-proof, but it is more durable than its liquid counterpart and is undoubtedly the better surface finishing option for your hose, cord, or cable reel. While there will always be a role for liquid paint, you can expect a powder-coated finish to increase the life of your reel and provide the best overall protection.

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