Seeing all the shiny metal furniture on display at ICFF reminded us that we love powder-coating. More specifically, we love how easily it makes something old and rusty look shiny and new (hello, exterior furniture!). Below the jump, a quick explanation of what exactly powder-coating is, how it's done, where to find someone to do it, and what the costs are like.
Technically, powder-coating is just another finish for metal objects. However, it's not something you can just do at home. You need to have a professional do it.
What's the point? Say you find some garden chairs (or a bed frame, or a chair base!) at the flea or a garage sale that you absolutely love, but unfortunately they are really beat-up (think rusty). Having them powder-coated is a terrific way to give them a new look. It's also great because most powder-coating shops have a wide variety of colors to choose from, and finishes like flat or high-gloss.
On our own quest to find a local powder-coating shop, we came across www.powdercoating.org. Not only does it list shops by state, but it has a lot of other useful information that we were happy to read up on.
The prices vary, especially depending on the prep work. For instance, if your furniture needs stripping, it'll put you at the higher end of the price range. We found that a single garden chair powder-coated would cost anywhere between $45 to $80.
If you've got a powder-coating before-and-after photo, send it to us! We're always interested in what colors people choose.
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Comments (16)
this will make my metal sewing cart and chairs look hottt!!
Powder coating sounds interesting but seeing my least favourite household object on a daily basis is a no no.
I just sent out a couple of cast-iron radiators to be sandblasted and powdercoated. When the guy drops off the finished pieces, he's going to pick up our old clawfoot tub and sink and powdercoat them, too! MUCH more durable than in-home spray refinishing.
Powdercoating rules!
Wait, you can powdercoat a tub?
Keen.
I was going to have a pair of steel cabinets powder-coated but the cost was silly. I think it was close to a thousand dollars for the pair. I learned that the smaller and simpler the piece you plan to have powder-coated, the better the price will be.
thank you for posting on this. i have 2 taborets and a steel top that i use for a desk, that i really want to powder coat.
i just need to see how much it will cost first.
i've heard universities will often do it cheap since they do it for their cabinets and all that stuff. however i lived at western michigan university and now next to purdue, and i have yet to find who to contact about it.
i really want to do my entire desk setup in bright red.
Typically it's most cost-effective to have multiple pieces done at once. I had an entire set of 1960's garden furniture done for a client and they didn't charge much more than they would have for any single piece of the set.
Another great thing about powder coating is that you have a range of textures available as well.
more pics would be great...what else can you powder coat besides lawn furniture?
When cleaning out my grandmother's place my parents couldn't part with her antique industrial metal vanity. It had peeling yellow paint and musty paper-lined drawers, but hey had it stripped and powder coated silver and now it looks beautiful.
I bought a bracelet an an artisan's fair last weekend and it's powder coated brass which i ~love~! The artist does it herself in her garage in Vancouver BC.
I use this all the time in industrial/commercial applications. For the "greenies" amongst you take note that it's not especially environmentally friendly...
Ooh, I just got a call from the powder coaters that my table base and end table are ready for pick-up. Now I can't wait to see them.
This is a great resource!
Dreaming of my apartment after skim coated walls and powder coated furniture.....
....smoothness everywhere like a baby's ___ .....ah heavenly!
@brittanykate, let's see them!
Okay, someone please tell me the details about that light!! I LOVE IT
Actually, powder coating is green! The most green there is!