Property managers often ask for powder coating when what they need is electrostatic painting, and the other way around. The two share the word electrostatic and both leave a hard, even finish on metal. The difference is where the work happens and what it takes to get the part there.
The short answer
| Electrostatic painting | Powder coating | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Liquid paint | Dry powder |
| Where | On site, item stays installed | In a shop with a curing oven |
| Cure | Air dry, often same-day use | Baked at high heat |
| Best for | Railings, lockers, elevator doors, partitions, fixed fencing | Removable parts, new fabrication, high abuse items |
| Downtime | Area by area, building open | Item is gone until it returns from the shop |
How each one works
In electrostatic painting the spray gun charges liquid paint particles and the metal is grounded. The charged particles are drawn onto the surface and wrap around edges and the back of round profiles. Because it is liquid paint, it cures in air, so the item never moves.
In powder coating a dry powder is sprayed onto a charged part, then the part goes into an oven where the powder melts and cures into a shell. The oven is the reason powder coating happens in a shop.
When electrostatic painting is the better call
- The item is fixed to the building: stair rails, elevator doors, built-in lockers
- The space cannot lose the item for days
- You are refinishing, not fabricating new
- You want many items done in one visit with minimal disruption
When powder coating is the better call
- The part unbolts easily and can be gone for a while
- It is new fabrication heading to install anyway
- It will take constant impact or abrasion
Cost and disruption
Powder coating may look cheaper per part, but removal, transport, reinstallation and downtime add up on items that are bolted, welded or wired in place. Refinishing in place avoids all of that.
Not sure which applies? Get a free estimate and we will recommend one, or read more on the electrostatic painting page.
