Steel Fabrication: How to Choose the Right Finishing Process for Your Steel Products
Although it is the final step in the steel fabrication process, finishing isn't in any way less important than the preceding steps. Finishing of steel parts or products is primarily performed to protect the substrate steel from various forms of deterioration, such as rust and corrosion. This helps to prevent the premature failure of fabricated steel products. Finishing can also be done for decorative purposes.
There is a wide variety of finishing options available for the fabrication of steel products. These include painting, powder-coating, buffing, polishing and many more. With so many options available for you to choose from, it's easy to get overwhelmed.
Below are some key factors to consider when selecting a finish for your products.
The Intended Use of Your Steel Products
Steel has so many uses in the industrial world, including the manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, construction, medical and electronics industries. When choosing a finish for your steel products, it is important to consider their intended use. The appropriate finish for your products is one that will be able to keep the products intact and looking pristine for a long time.
For example, a paint finish achieved through spray painting is a popular finishing technique for auto bodies. For applications where a shiny, corrosion-resistant look is desired, such as bathroom plumbing fixtures and accessories, a polished or mirror finish may be the ideal choice.
The Cost of the Finishing Job
The different types of finishing options available for steel products require different machines and levels of skill to achieve. As a result, they cost different prices. When you are selecting a finishing process for your steel workpieces, make sure you can afford its cost. Otherwise, you might find the cost of producing the final products to be too expensive.
The Amount of Time It Takes to Complete the Finishing Job
The type of finishing that you choose for your steel products is going to impact the overall production speed. When you are comparing your finishing options, settle for a finish type that matches your production schedule. You wouldn't want to keep your clients waiting because the finishing process you chose for your steel products requires a lot of time to complete.
If you consider the above-discussed factors when selecting a finishing process for your steel products, you should be able to choose a process that's just right for your application. Feel free to talk to a steel fabrication professional for more information on finish types.