When it comes to making sure your products are of the highest quality, every part of the manufacturing process must be exact. If any components are not up to the standards expected from your consumers, then you run the risk of facing lower sales and a sour reputation.
If you utilize metal pieces in your products, metal finishing will improve the appearance and durability of your product. Finishing metal can provide a ton of benefits, as well as ensure that your products look their best. Continue reading to learn how it all works, as well as the various types of metal finishing services you can find.
What Is Metal Finishing?
Simply put, metal finishing alters the appearance of metal and makes it stronger and less susceptible to wear. Usually, the finishing process is done by adding a thin layer of a complementary material onto the base metal. In some cases, finishing is necessary to ensure that the metal will hold up to certain conditions. In other situations, it may be purely cosmetic to improve the look and shine of the piece.
Benefits of Metal Finishing
If you’ve never utilized this kind of process for your products, you may be wondering if it’s even needed. However, the fact is that regardless of how you want your metal look, there are plenty of other reasons metal surface finishing is a smart choice. Here are the most common results that you can expect:
Increased Durability
With an additional coating of material, you can drastically reduce the amount of wear and tear that the piece will suffer from. In some instances, the outer layer may protect against damage from the elements, particularly water or freezing conditions. Also, if the component is exposed to high heat levels, a metal finish may keep it from overheating under high temperatures.
Enhanced Conductivity
For certain electrical processes, you need to make sure that the metal can handle the current running through it without melting or overloading. Metal finishing will usually enable you to utilize different materials for your needs, making each piece work more efficiently.
Removal of Surface Flaws
Even if you’re not that concerned with the cosmetic appearance of your various metal components, a flawed surface can adversely impact its ability to perform. Metal finishing will smooth the piece to ensure that it doesn’t have that problem, further increasing overall efficiency and performance.
Decoration
Finally, metal finishing services also exist to make your products look their best. Since appearances can count for a lot with the average consumer, it’s imperative that you utilize finishing processes to improve your product’s selling power. Think of it this way; if everything else was equal between your item and a competitor’s, wouldn’t you want yours to look better?
Types of Metal Finishing
To achieve all of the previously mentioned results, fabricators and metal workshops use a variety of techniques. We suggest relying on the recommendation of your finisher, but here is a rundown of the most common methods so that you know what to expect.
Metal Plating
This process utilizes a chemical bath to bond a thin layer to the surface of the metal. It can either be done with electricity (electroplating) or a straight chemical reaction (electroless plating). In either case, the atoms of each material bond together to create a long-lasting finish. Metal plating is ideal if you want to improve the overall durability and efficiency of your product.
Brushing
With brushing, the surface of the metal is rubbed with an abrasive belt or brush to create a uniform grain. This process removes imperfections and burrs from the material and creates a unique textured appearance.
Buffing
For metal pieces that require a smooth surface without any textures, a buffer may be used. This is best done with metal that has a natural gloss or shine to it, such as silver or gold. The buffing process creates a brilliant luster that will captivate your customers.
Powder Coating
If you want improved surface protection against the elements, then this is a fantastic option. This process involves melting a plastic powder to the surface of the metal. The plastic can be colored to create an even more aesthetic effect, and it creates a lightly textured appearance. Powder coating can also be glossy or matte, depending on your needs.
Grinding
If you need to smooth out sharp edges as well as remove surface imperfections, then a grinder is usually the fastest and easiest method available. While it won’t provide as much of an aesthetic appearance as other options, it will ensure that your piece is both soft and smooth.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking for a way to make your metal components stronger and more pleasing to the eye, then finishing is the optimal choice. Whether you need to improve your product’s performance or you simply want it to last longer, metal finishing is a great choice.
Naimor Inc. utilizes all of these processes and more when providing metal finishing, and deliver the parts you need on time and done right. Contact us today to find out how our metal finishing services can benefit your company.