Feature Articles

Paint Failure Analysis
Question: One of my clients has a repaint problem with his truck.

2000 Large Coating Job Shop Survey

Products Finishing takes its biennial look at large coating job shops. But, this year we did it with a twist...

Blistering on Recoat
Question: We paint our steel enclosures before assembly, and the painted enclosures are stored.

Film Thickness vs. Paint Use
Question: I run an anodic acrylic enamel electrocoat paint system.

Aluminum Oxide Impregnation
Usually when someone says that he doesn’t want any aluminum oxide used on his parts, he is concerned about aluminum oxide impregnation in the metal surface or aluminum oxide grit left on the surface, since this can be carried into service with the part.

Cost-Cutting Benefits of Chemical Stripping

Is it better to scrap a part or strip it? This article points out why chemical stripping may be your best choice...

Chalking of Heat-Resistant Paint
Question: I have a customer who manufactures and paints fire rings, which are used at parks and campsites around the country.

Installing a Powder Coating Line
Question: We are interested in installing a powder coating line.

Green Copper Redux
Question: Our company plates parts with copper.

Plating on Aluminum
Question: We plate aluminum (6061) parts with cyanide copper followed with an alkaline tin plate.

Controlling Your Electrocoating Line

Electro-Coat Technologies electrocoats RV chassis and other large parts. While this has helped Electro-Coat Technologies become one of the few suppliers to this niche market, the large tanks have required some extra controls to keep them operating properly...

Tellurium Copper Problems
Question: We are trying to plate silver over nickel on tellurium copper.

Wastewater from Aluminum Processing
Question: We currently have a five-stage phosphate washer followed by an electrocoat system that is used to process steel parts.

Perspectives: Making your "Product" Different
If you don't manufacture bicycles, jewelry, wheels or outdoor furniture, but merely provide the "finishing touch," what can you do to make your "product" different?

Passing 240 Hours Salt Spray
Question: We are currently trying to pass an OEM paint specification.

Nothing but Net: Internet Privacy
Your privacy in the workplace is a hot topic in today's digital world.

On My Mind: Applause for EPA?
Basically, I'm pretty skeptical of just about anything EPA does.

Adding Process Control Cuts Etch Time by Half

Boeing needed to update its finishing processes in order to stay competitive in the aerospace industry. By adding a new line with a programmable logic controller, it was able to do just that...

Permit for New Plating Line
Question: One of our customers is considering setting up a new bright nickel plating line that has been developed to replace chrome plating at its new location in Virginia.