October 16, 2020 by Monnig Industries
Over time, any type of metal is prone to rust or corrosion, it’s inevitable. It’s very important to protect the surface of your galvanized steel to extend its lifespan. So, how do you achieve this? One simple way is to clear coat the surface.
Using a clear coat extends the lifespan of the steel and makes it look better. Clear coating your steel also helps to prevent fading, oxidizing and damage from UV rays.
Here are a few tips on how to clear coat your galvanized steel and what types best fit your needs:
What is a Clear Coat?
A clear coat is essentially a transparent layer of paint. In other words, it’s a resin or colorless paint. Adding a clear coat makes the steel you’re painting look shiny and brand new again as well as protects the paint.
Applying the Coat
- The first step to start is to clean the surface: Make sure you are wiping away any particles or dust with a damp cloth. The surface should be cleaned properly to ensure the clear coat adheres well and won’t peel off easily.
- Apply the clear coat: When starting the application process, take the paint sprayer or brush and apply the first layer of the coat. Once it’s all dry, go ahead and apply the second coat. Adding a second coat will help the longevity on the steel.
It’s important to note that you need to wait until your clear coat is dry before you use that object. We recommend waiting between 36 and 48 hours.
Types of Clear Coats
There are many options on the market for clear coating. It’s important to know the difference so you can find the best one to fit your needs:
- Topcoat – This type of coat is intended to be the last layer applied to paint. It can be effective and easy to use giving the paint depth.
- Turbo Coat – This is a fast drying clear coat that gives metal that high-shine glossy look.
- Glamour Coat – A slower drying clear coat, it allows for more leveling and is less sensitive to moisture.
- Higher Solids Coat – A higher solid coat has a higher concentration of resin and a smaller amount of solvent or VOC (volatile organic compounds.) Containing more additives and higher solids, the clear coat has a thicker film after the solvent has evaporated. This coat tends to dry slower and is more expensive than other types.
Things to Consider
Transparency: This is one of the most important considerations when deciding on a clear coat. If you’re looking to make the metal look new again, make sure to buy a product that doesn’t cover over your base paint.
Gloss Level: Keep in mind the gloss level should be more than 90 units so the metal you’re coating will have that high-gloss shine to look just as good as new.
Ease of Application: Since the goal with most is to add a second coat, it shouldn’t be difficult to apply. Make sure you are choosing an option with a nozzle that lets you spray on the surface of the steel evenly. This guarantees that you won’t have any imperfections on the surface and will have a smooth finish.
Scratch Resistance: We all know that metal is vulnerable to scratches, so applying another coat helps to protect the surface. Choose a product that is scratch resistance and has UV protection.
Final Thoughts
One great way to ensure extending the lifespan of your galvanized steel with clear coating. Once you know the type you’re looking for, you should be able to pick up the best product for what you have planned.
FAQs
The surface should be cleaned properly to ensure the clear coat adheres well and won't peel off easily. Apply the clear coat: When starting the application process, take the paint sprayer or brush and apply the first layer of the coat. Once it's all dry, go ahead and apply the second coat.
What can you coat galvanized steel with? ›
The paint has to be specifically formulated for galvanized surfaces. An example of this type of paint is an oil-based, direct-to-metal paint, sometimes referred to as DTM paint. If you don't want to use an oil-based paint, acrylic latex will also work, provided it has been prepared correctly.
How to recoat galvanized steel? ›
Thoroughly wire brush the affected area, heat it with a blow torch to 300°C and apply a special zinc alloy rod or powder to obtain required repair coating thickness. This may, however, be difficult or too time-consuming to carry out on erected steelwork, or on awkward, or inaccessible areas.
What is galvanized steel pipe protected from corrosion by coating it with _____? ›
Galvanized pipes are steel pipes that have been dipped in a protective zinc coating to prevent corrosion and rust. Galvanized piping was commonly installed in homes built before 1960. When it was invented, galvanized pipe was an alternative to lead pipe for water supply lines.
How to clear coat galvanized steel? ›
The surface should be cleaned properly to ensure the clear coat adheres well and won't peel off easily. Apply the clear coat: When starting the application process, take the paint sprayer or brush and apply the first layer of the coat. Once it's all dry, go ahead and apply the second coat.
What are the coatings for galvanised steel? ›
Unless the galvanized metal is not going to be coated, the better choice is to use a zinc-rich primer. In addition, the welds of galvanized steel (which are the most prone to corrosion) are normally touched-up with zinc.
Can you use polyurethane on galvanized metal? ›
In multi-coat systems the use of micaceous iron oxide (MIO) primer has been shown to give improved adhesion. Two-pack polyurethane and acrylic urethanes are commonly used as top coats and offer good durability and colour retention.
How do you shine galvanized steel? ›
For a finishing touch, polish and buff your galvanized steel using lint-free cloths and wax or metal polish. This will really make it shine, and will make any small scratches nearly invisible.
What is the surface finish of galvanised steel? ›
Galvannealed steel is a zinc-iron alloy product, where the base metal is coated by the hot-dip process, then heated to induce alloying between the molten zinc coating and the steel. The resulting finish is a dull matte surface.
What not to use with galvanized steel? ›
Copper and brass encourage electrochemical reactions that deplete the zinc coating on galvanized steel.
Yes, we can apply a powder coat over galvanized steel to create a high-grade architectural finish. This combination provides exceptional resistance to the elements, but galvanized products require surface preparation to ensure a quality and lasting coat.
How do you refresh galvanized steel? ›
Galvanizing may be cleaned using a water-based emulsifier, alkaline-based cleaners with a pH of 12 or lower or organic solvents. Then rinse the area with fresh water and simply wipe clean with a soft cloth. Please consult the your galvanizer or the GAA if you have any concerns in regards to cleaning your product.
What is galvanized steel coated with? ›
Ideal for outdoor purposes, galvanized steel is coated with zinc oxide for rust protection. Zinc-oxide provides a protective coating used to prevent rust. The zinc-oxide coating compound takes longer to corrode than non-galvanized steel.
What is the protective coating used to galvanize iron and steel called? ›
What is galvanisation/galvanizing? Galvanisation or galvanization (or galvanizing as it is most commonly called) is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to iron or steel, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot dip galvanizing, in which steel sections are submerged in a bath of molten zinc.
What is galvanized iron coated by? ›
Therefore, galvanizing is a process in which Iron or Steel is coated with thin layer of Zinc(Zn) to protect them from corrosion.
What adheres to galvanized steel? ›
Most common Types of Adhesive for hot-dip galvanized steel:
two-part no-mix acrylics (metal-bonding or industrial formulations) two-part mix acrylics (Loctite AA H8600, and other industrial formulations) two-part epoxies (metal-bonding or industrial formulations)
How do you protect galvanized steel from corrosion? ›
Barrier protection is perhaps the oldest and most widely used method of corrosion protection. It acts by isolating the base metal from the environment. Like paints, the hot-dip galvanized coating provides barrier protection to steel. As long as the barrier is intact, the steel is protected and corrosion will not occur.
What can you spray on galvanized metal to prevent rust? ›
If the zinc coating is damaged, the exposed metal can rust. This can easily be touched up with zinc paint that automatically has the same color and is readily available in shops. Zinc spray forms a quick drying, self healing and flexible coating that helps stop corrosion.
What kind of paint will stick to galvanized metal? ›
After allowing the galvanized surface to weather for six months or chemically cleaning it to remove any oil or remnants of the galvanizing process, you can apply two coats of an acrylic latex paint directly to the metal or a special galvanized metal primer topcoated with an alkyd or latex product.
