If it’s metal and can handle 450°F, we can coat it, including steel, aluminum, wrought iron, and most everything in between, so whether it’s patio furniture, railings, fabrication materials, auto parts, or a staircase, chances are we can finish it.
Some powder coaters run everything down a conveyor line, one process for every piece. We’re a job shop instead. Each project runs as its own batch, prepped and treated to match your piece, not a generic mold. It takes more time and attention, but you get a finish process customized for your job.
We finish materials to fit your budget and expectations, which can include general sanding or addressing specific defects.. Bring it to us as-is or let us prep it. Heads up: any scratch or dent you can feel with a fingernail will likely show through the coating, especially on glossier finishes.
For pieces that need it, we facilitate sandblasting services to strip old coatings, remove rust, clear corrosion, or rough up the metal so the powder sticks better.
Every piece gets hung on a rack for coating, usually with hooks or wire through pre-drilled holes. Designing or building something for powder coating? Loop us in early. It makes the process a lot easier for both of us – and, potentially, less expensive for you.
This might be the most important step of all. Every piece goes through a five-step wash: cleaner, rinse, an acid or phosphate treatment (depending on the metal), another rinse, and a protective sealer that fights corrosion and helps the powder stick. We use a high-end reverse osmosis system, so chemical preparation and every rinse is done with pure water, never tap water. Stubborn grease or oil gets a solvent treatment first.
Cast iron and aluminum can trap gas or lubricants that bubble up during curing. When we spot the risk, we “overbake” the piece first, a high-heat bake before coating that drives out trapped gas and oil so your finish comes out clean.
The powder application process involves giving your metal piece an electrical charge and then spraying on a dry powder that contains an opposite charge so it sticks. But there’s a lot more to it.
Our booth and gun are cleaned between every job, every color change, morning and night. No cross-contamination, no stray debris in your finish.
We spray with Gema equipment, the industry standard for powder guns. The air feeding the gun runs through three separate dryers, so no moisture or oil ever touches your powder.
We source powder from multiple manufacturers to match your color, texture, gloss, and the conditions your piece will face, indoors, outdoors, or somewhere rougher. We keep black, white, and bronze in stock, plus custom colors for repeat customers. All of it lives in a climate-controlled room, since powder is sensitive to heat and moisture.
We're a certified IGP applicator for the AAMA 2604 process. Coat your piece with their AAMA 2604 powder and it's backed by IGP's manufacturer warranty. Ask us for details.
Your piece cures in our Wisconsin oven, the gold standard in the industry. Got a big project? Talk to us first. Oven size isn’t the only limit; how we handle and move the piece matters too.
We cure every piece to the powder manufacturer’s exact specs, never a generic setting. If your piece is prone to outgassing, we can also recommend powders that cure at lower temperatures.
Here are a few of our color vendors, visit their site to review available colors. Note: colors may not be available for all project types and delivery delays may extend project timelines.
Do I Need Primer? We recommend primer for outdoor steel and for aluminum near saltwater or pools. It’s required for white, light beige, or bright yellow finishes. Without it, the metal underneath can show through and throw off your color. Primer fixes that and gets you the true color you want.
Embrace the perfect palette:
Hundreds of powders in stock, with even more sample chips to browse in our office.
Stop by and we'll help you find or match the color you're picturing
Want to see it on metal, not just a screen or paper chip? We can ship you physical metal swatches coated in the actual powder. Just ask.
Powder comes in different grades (interior, exterior, exterior super-durable, and architectural) so we'll match the grade to where your piece will live.
Here are some heartfelt testimonials from our valued clients who have experienced our performance first-hand
Tampa Bay Powder Coating is always ready to get the job done. They’ve met all of my deadlines and have provided some of the best advice we’ve ever received on some of our most challenging projects.
Tampa Construction
We had 100 theatre seats that needed to restored for the grand re-opening of the Azalea Science Center. We honestly didn’t think it could be done. It was a big job, but they got it done.
CITY OF ST PETERSBURG
This is a tricky question, because there are so many variables involved, starting with what scope of services/prep and type (and color) of powder are chosen. How the items are handled and cleaned and where they are stored (near salt water or a pool? In the sun?) also makes a big difference. Finally what “lasting” means varies from person to person. For some, this means how long until you see some fading and for others it means how long until the finish is peeling off. One thing that is consistent, however, is that powder coating is going to be a more durable coating than paint because it’s thicker and not as porous.
