There many different ways to prepare aluminium gates and fences for powdercoating. Some use linear grinders and burnishers such as the POLY PTX. Others use the FIX flap discs to grind and finish in one step while most use multiple steps with velcro discs and an orbital machine. This is a method showcased here that is just as easy as velcro discs but with fewer steps. Here are the general steps required to prepare an aluminum fence or gate to be powder coated:
The first step in preparing an aluminum fence or gate for powder coating is to thoroughly clean the surface to remove any dirt, debris, or other contaminants. This can be done using a degreaser or a mild detergent and water. The surface should be completely dry before moving on to the next step.
Sand the surface: The next step is to sand the surface of the aluminum to create a rough texture that will help the powder coating adhere properly. This can be done using a fine-grit sandpaper or a handheld machine. Any rough edges or sharp corners should also be smoothed out during this step. The most common methods to achieve this is using either a burnisher machine such as the POLY PTX with a fine sleeve on an expansion roller, the Varilex WSF 1800 using the FIX Flap discs or the same machine using a fleece disc such as the extra coarse fleece disc shown in this article.
Powder coating relies on a dry powder electrically adhereing to the surface which is then baked. Now the surface cant be too coarse otherwise the finish will not be flat but too smooth and the powder coating won’t be able to stick to the surface. This means the approximate grit range is 80 grit to 320 grit. As long as it is flat and smooth, which the Extra Coarse SC Fleece Disc can do in just one step as you can see in the video above.
Using the Varilex 1800 machine, it is great for working with all metals, even aluminium. This is due to its 1750W of power and variable speed capabilties but also its large amount of torque where it retains a constant speed even under load.
For professionals the Varilex and the POLY PTX allow you to complete about 90% of jobs, please find a link to them both below:
POLY PTX 800 Machine | Linear Grinder, Sander and Polisher
VARILEX WSF 1800 Machine | Variable Speed Angle Grinder
A real game changer in the metal working world, especially on aluminium. This product not only works very quickly but also lasts a long time.
