Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
(OP)
I am looking for the most cost effective way to apply an opaque, black finish on some steel sheetmetal parts. I am considering powder coating, paint or black oxide. Which one of these are most cost effective?





RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
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RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
In general, I think you will find that the relative cost will be black oxide < paint < powder coating. In general, I think you will find that performance is the opposite.
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
Keep in mind most sheet metal vendors have inhouse painting/powdercoating.. Not many have a black ox line so it would then need to get shipped to another vendor then to you..(don't forget about shipping costs as many companies do)
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
Black oxide provides essentially no corrosion protection.
Paint (with proper surface preparation and primer) can be pretty good corrosion protection. Unless it gets scratched or chipped down to the base metal, then it's useless.
Powdercoat is the same, except that it is harder to scratch or chip.
Paint and powdercoat will both add thickness to the finished part, so if things are designed for a tight fit you'll need to take that into consideration.
You could also do a zinc coating with a black chromate. There are probably some other coatings that are black.
Is aluminum an option for the base metal? That would open the options to include a black colored anodize.
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
Black Oxide would be bottom of my list based on what little info you provide but I admit I haven't used it much.
My understanding is that to get any significant corrosion prevention from black oxide parts they need to be oiled. The black oxide layer helps 'trap' the oil, which is what really provides the protection. Black oxide parts tend to look quite dull if memory serves, probably not good for many cosmetic applications but only you'd know for yours.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
black oxide helps but will easily corrode unless oiled.
no added dimension.
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
I would give them a call to discuss your application.
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RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
If you are going to an outside vendor to have your parts made, ask them what process they recommend. While one method may be cheaper, your vendor may prefer another and the first method would cost more for a third party to do.
RE: Steel Sheetmetal Finishing Options
They will recommend the processes that they have the capability of doing that gives them the highest margin.
If the OP could quantify the performance requirements for the coating we could probably give a better recommendation.