I don't understand the difference, in terms of longevity and
appearance, of painting a sheet of perforated steel with
black paint from a spray can, or having it powder coated
black. The holes in the steel are very small diameter
(1/16") and close together (1/8" centers). This sheet of
steel "screen", about 3' by 4', will be going into a screen
door, replacing the older and deteriorating mesh screen
currently there.

I'm concerned about some of the holes filling with paint,
but that seems a risk in either case.

On what basis would you decide between these two approaches
to coloring the raw steel black? Do you have other
suggestions for this project?

Thanks.
--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.

On Nov 16, 2:33 am, "CWLee" wrote:
I don't understand the difference, in terms of longevity and
appearance, of painting a sheet of perforated steel with
black paint from a spray can, or having it powder coated
black. The holes in the steel are very small diameter
(1/16") and close together (1/8" centers). This sheet of
steel "screen", about 3' by 4', will be going into a screen
door, replacing the older and deteriorating mesh screen
currently there.

I'm concerned about some of the holes filling with paint,
but that seems a risk in either case.

On what basis would you decide between these two approaches
to coloring the raw steel black? Do you have other
suggestions for this project?

Thanks.
--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.


My main basis for determining would be that I would not know where to
take anything locally to have it powder coated. Clearly the advantage
to powder coating is that it's a much tougher, more durable coating.
Whether that makes sense in this application vs the cost/ease of
having it done would be the real determining factor. I would think
any place that would do this likely has some minimum which might be
more than this job is worth.

In article ,
"CWLee" wrote:

I don't understand the difference, in terms of longevity and
appearance, of painting a sheet of perforated steel with
black paint from a spray can, or having it powder coated
black. The holes in the steel are very small diameter
(1/16") and close together (1/8" centers). This sheet of
steel "screen", about 3' by 4', will be going into a screen
door, replacing the older and deteriorating mesh screen
currently there.

I'm concerned about some of the holes filling with paint,
but that seems a risk in either case.

On what basis would you decide between these two approaches
to coloring the raw steel black? Do you have other
suggestions for this project?

Thanks.

Why are you going the perf steel route instead of new screen?

powder is typically tougher and ticker than paint. It will also cover every
arte of the steel as it is electrostaticly coated, and not subject to your
angle of attack. I think in this case a can of spray paint is the way to go,
specially if the metal screen is close.


"CWLee" wrote in message
...

I don't understand the difference, in terms of longevity and
appearance, of painting a sheet of perforated steel with
black paint from a spray can, or having it powder coated
black. The holes in the steel are very small diameter
(1/16") and close together (1/8" centers). This sheet of
steel "screen", about 3' by 4', will be going into a screen
door, replacing the older and deteriorating mesh screen
currently there.

I'm concerned about some of the holes filling with paint,
but that seems a risk in either case.

On what basis would you decide between these two approaches
to coloring the raw steel black? Do you have other
suggestions for this project?

Thanks.
--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.

In article ,
"SteveB" wrote:

If you spray it, figure on about four VERY light coats,
with a couple of hours in between.


Two hours between coats? That's not what the spray can directions I've
seen say.

"CWLee" wrote in message
...

I don't understand the difference, in terms of longevity and
appearance, of painting a sheet of perforated steel with
black paint from a spray can, or having it powder coated
black. The holes in the steel are very small diameter
(1/16") and close together (1/8" centers). This sheet of
steel "screen", about 3' by 4', will be going into a screen
door, replacing the older and deteriorating mesh screen
currently there.

I'm concerned about some of the holes filling with paint,
but that seems a risk in either case.

On what basis would you decide between these two approaches
to coloring the raw steel black? Do you have other
suggestions for this project?

Thanks.
--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.


Spray painting @ 2 cans would be less than ten bucks for GOOD paint.
Powder coating might be ten bucks a square foot.

No doubt about it that powder coat would last longer, as it is baked on, and
has a surface sealing glaze.

If it was me, I'd just clean it REALLY good, then spray it with Rustoleum or
Krylon. And then, you can touch if up every couple of years.

With either process, the talent of the painter will determine if the holes
are plugged or not. If you spray it, figure on about four VERY light coats,
with a couple of hours in between. The only thing that can clog the holes
is putting too much paint on at once.

Spraying it is the way to go. Hang it up with two pieces of wire, one at
each corner. Do it in a pattern of straight lines across the piece. Let it
dry for two hours, then turn it ninety degrees. Repeat until you think it's
covered. On your first coat, it should look like you've missed it and some
of the metal should show through. That's how light a coat you want to keep
from clogging the holes.

Steve

Read the directions on the can, most spray paint will bubble and
blister if you recoat after an hour.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"SteveB" wrote in message
...

"CWLee" wrote in message
...

I don't understand the difference, in terms of longevity and
appearance, of painting a sheet of perforated steel with
black paint from a spray can, or having it powder coated
black. The holes in the steel are very small diameter
(1/16") and close together (1/8" centers). This sheet of
steel "screen", about 3' by 4', will be going into a screen
door, replacing the older and deteriorating mesh screen
currently there.

I'm concerned about some of the holes filling with paint,
but that seems a risk in either case.

On what basis would you decide between these two approaches
to coloring the raw steel black? Do you have other
suggestions for this project?

Thanks.
--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.


Spray painting @ 2 cans would be less than ten bucks for GOOD
paint.
Powder coating might be ten bucks a square foot.

No doubt about it that powder coat would last longer, as it is
baked on, and has a surface sealing glaze.

If it was me, I'd just clean it REALLY good, then spray it with
Rustoleum or Krylon. And then, you can touch if up every couple
of years.

With either process, the talent of the painter will determine if
the holes are plugged or not. If you spray it, figure on about
four VERY light coats, with a couple of hours in between. The
only thing that can clog the holes is putting too much paint on
at once.

Spraying it is the way to go. Hang it up with two pieces of
wire, one at each corner. Do it in a pattern of straight lines
across the piece. Let it dry for two hours, then turn it ninety
degrees. Repeat until you think it's covered. On your first
coat, it should look like you've missed it and some of the metal
should show through. That's how light a coat you want to keep
from clogging the holes.

Steve

"Smitty Two" wrote:

Why are you going the perf steel route instead of new
screen?

To add an additional layer of security.

This is a high-crime community, and neighborhood bums
(called "homeless" by some) use keys or other metal objects
to slash/slit conventional screen material - just to reach
inside to see if the door behind the screen door is
unlocked.

wrote:

Whether that makes sense in this application vs the
cost/ease of
having it done would be the real determining factor. I
would think
any place that would do this likely has some minimum which
might be
more than this job is worth.

A local shop quoted me $30 for a 3' x 4' sheet. That looks
good to me, compared with the time, effort, and cost of the
spray can route - but I'm still exploring my options.

CWLee wrote:

I don't understand the difference, in terms of longevity and
appearance, of painting a sheet of perforated steel with
black paint from a spray can, or having it powder coated
black. The holes in the steel are very small diameter
(1/16") and close together (1/8" centers). This sheet of
steel "screen", about 3' by 4', will be going into a screen
door, replacing the older and deteriorating mesh screen
currently there.

I'm concerned about some of the holes filling with paint,
but that seems a risk in either case.

On what basis would you decide between these two approaches
to coloring the raw steel black? Do you have other
suggestions for this project?

Thanks.


Sounds like one of those things that looks good on paper, but won't work
so well. Seems like you have a choice between plugging some holes with
paint or leaving spots of steel unpainted and eventually rusting. Is
this for security?

CWLee wrote:

"Smitty Two" wrote:



Why are you going the perf steel route instead of new


screen?

To add an additional layer of security.

This is a high-crime community, and neighborhood bums
(called "homeless" by some) use keys or other metal objects
to slash/slit conventional screen material - just to reach
inside to see if the door behind the screen door is
unlocked.



Have you considered plexiglass with holes? Could have larger holes for
air flow with screen on the house side to keep bugs out.

"CWLee" wrote in message
...

wrote:

Whether that makes sense in this application vs the
cost/ease of
having it done would be the real determining factor. I
would think
any place that would do this likely has some minimum which
might be
more than this job is worth.

A local shop quoted me $30 for a 3' x 4' sheet. That looks
good to me, compared with the time, effort, and cost of the
spray can route - but I'm still exploring my options.


The powder coating will last at least 5 to 10 times longer though. I have
powder coated outdoor furniture that is well over 20 years old and has just
dulled slightly over the years.

"Norminn" wrote:

Sounds like one of those things that looks good on paper,
but won't work
so well. Seems like you have a choice between plugging
some holes with
paint or leaving spots of steel unpainted and eventually
rusting. Is
this for security?

It is for security. In this community I could probably
count at least 100 similar screen doors within a half-mile
radius. Most of them are on steel grill screen doors (which
one can buy at the local HD and Lowe's as well), whereas
mine is an opening in an otherwise solid wooden screen door.