The Differences between Liquid Paint Booths & Powder Coating ...

We often get asked questions about if you can powder coat in a liquid paint booth and what differences are their between liquid and powder coating booths.  Whether because your trying to powder coat in a liquid paint booth or just trying to understand why they are different, this guide will help you understand the differences between liquid and powder coating booths so you can understand why they are different and why that can matter.

Check now

How Powder Coating Booths work

To understand the difference between powder coating and liquid coating paint booths it is best to understand how each type of booth works. A liquid paint booths always exhausts outside of the building while a powder coating booth in contrast will typically be able to discharge the air it pulls in back into your building. A powder coating booth relies on a cartridge or on a multi stage filter system to catch powder as it is sprayed and doesn’t adhere to a parts surface. A cartridge style powder coating booth enables the powder built up on the cartridge of the booth to be purged and with the right equipment in place recovered for easy reuse. A multi stage filtration powder coating booth captures powder that is wasted in filters and is generally known as a spray to waste powder booth because you cannot easily reuse the powder coating in this type of powder coating booth.  Both powder booths rely on a fan pulling air through the booth, one into the multi stage filters and the other into the cartridges. They also will typically use a HEPA rated filter as this enables a powder booth to exhaust back into the shop because the HEPA filter collects all dust particles and allows the air that is discharged from the powder coating booth’s duct to be free of anything hazardous.

How Liquid Coating Paint Booths Work

A paint booth for liquid paint works similarly to a powder coating booth where air is pulled across a filter by a fan however there are also quite a few differences between the two types of booths. A liquid paint should be exhausted outside so that  hazardous gases are released to the atmosphere rather than back to the building your working in. Since powder coating doesn’t have hazardous gases until it is baked, it is generally safe to exhaust back into your building if you have a proper HEPA filter.

Primary Differences between Liquid and Powder Coating Booths

Liquid paint booths have to vent to the outside to prevent build up of hazardous gases and prevent exposure of hazardous gases in the building.  Liquid paint booths typically rely on a single filter that is generally set to capture less fine particles when compared to the cartridge and multi stage filter systems used in a powder coating booth. Liquid paint booths remove a lot of air from your facility which can create the need for a large heater called an air make up to replace the air being removed. A powder coating booth relies on extensive filtration including a HEPA filter so that you do not have to exhaust the air outside.  Powder coating booths can be designed to allow for recovery of powder where a liquid paint booth will always have to waste the material that is not applied to your product. The ability to not exhaust to the outside, an option with a powder coating booth, helps keep heating costs down. However, the simpler filtration systems of liquid paint booths make them more cost efficient when spraying liquid paints that will rapidly fill filters.

Ultimately the differences in powder and liquid paint booths are important to understand because it can help make sense of why each booth is best suited for either liquid painting (for a liquid paint booth) or powder coating (for a powder coating booth). While you can powder coat in a liquid paint booth it is not ideal and you should never consider liquid coating in a powder booth as it is not exhausted outside. Having an understanding of the differences can help you see why each is needed for different reasons.

Choosing the right type of panels for your paint booth or powder coating booth can make a big difference in quality, productivity and maintenance.

Assuming finish quality is even the slightest priority, pre-coated white panels are indisputably a better option than galvanized steel. Pre-coated white panels are painted with a white liquid coating, then covered with PVC film to prevent scratching during assembly. With pre-coated white panels, the booth is brighter, the walls are easier to clean and there is less chance of cross-contamination.

If you are considering a new paint booth or powder coating booth, here are four things you need to know about pre-coated white panels, compared to galvanized steel panels:

1. Visibility is Better with Pre-Coated White Panels

For the best visibility, paint booths and powder coating booths should feature pre-coated white panels and a white epoxy floor. With white walls and floors, lighting is reflected throughout the booth, illuminating the entire booth and creating more even, consistent lighting throughout the booth. This allows the painter to see every side of the part or product and not miss any spots covered by shadows, resulting in higher-quality paint jobs and less rework.

For more information, please visit ZHYAO.

With galvanized steel panels, light does not reflect as well. Even when lights are present in the sidewalls, the light that does reflect typically has a grayish hue, making it problematic for painters.

“A paint booth can almost become cavernous with galvanized steel panels,” said Michael Cook, industrial territory sales manager for Global Finishing Solutions (GFS). “Even though you have lighting, you get a very dark appearance, and you seem to get a gray shadow on what you’re painting.”

2. Pre-Coated White Panels Are Easier to Clean

Cleaning a paint booth or powder coating booth with pre-coated white panels is much easier than a booth with galvanized steel panels. That is because overspray is easier to spot on pre-coated white panels, and it wipes off easier than it does on galvanized steel panels. Cleaner booths reduce the chance of cross-contamination. 

Compared to automotive refinish applications, industrial applications have a considerably higher volume of spraying. Some industrial manufacturers spray as much as 200 gallons per day in booths that are the same size as automotive refinish booths.

Using spray guns designed for higher volume, as well as high-pressure spray guns, increases the likelihood of overspray ending up on booth walls. That is why the cleanability of pre-coated white panels is such an advantage over galvanized steel panels.

3. Powder Clings to Galvanized Steel Panels

Perhaps the biggest drawback to a powder coating booth with galvanized steel panels is that powder overspray statically clings and adheres to the panels. As much as 90 percent of powder overspray can be easily blown off galvanized steel panels; however, a thin layer of powder will inevitably cling to the panels, and get stuck in the crevices of the booth. This can cause cross-contamination when multiple colors are sprayed in the booth.

“Powder doesn’t cling to pre-coated white panels like it does to galvanized steel panels,” Cook said. “The powder blows right off of pre-coated panels, and then you have this nice, beautiful, white booth again.”

4. Galvanized Steel Panels are Cheaper Than Pre-Coated White Panels

Paint booths with pre-coated white panels cost about 15 percent more than booths with galvanized steel panels. If you are at all concerned about finish quality, pre-coated white panels outweigh the heavier price tag, as you will have better visibility in the booth and easier cleanability, leading to less rework.

“If a manufacturer is coating structural steel, they just need to coat it. With less emphasis on the quality of the finish, film thickness or the coverage, galvanized steel panels are sufficient,” Cook said. “If a manufacturer is looking for a high-end finish, wants good lighting throughout the booth and wants something that cleans up easier, pre-coated white panels are a better choice.”

Are you interested in learning more about Powder coating booth for sale(ro,ms,mn)? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!