Wood grain effect with powder coating -- how to achieve it?

A. Pablo,

Si hay en España empresas que utilizan el sistema "cubico" para similar no solo madera sino tambien marmol, fibra de carbono, etc. Se aplica en piezas para automoción, motocicletas, perfumeria, etc. Supongo en la proxima feria de Eurosufas en Barcelona podras encontar lo que buscas.

Suerte.

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Ed. note: We appreciate Jordi's exceptional helpfulness in writing in the presumed native language of the inquirer. However, there are 100 or 1000 readers for every writer, so postings on this site should be in English. Thanks for your understanding!

A. Hi Sir,

Yes, you're in the right direction. Besides Heat Transfer there'a another way mostly used car accessories market. We do deal this one and that's called Water Transfer Printing.
Basically, the system would be slightly more expensive than heating transfer but releases a better graphic look. You can check it mostly as Burled wood car parts like wheels, gear-knobs, steering -wheels.

A. Dear Michael,

There are three basic powder coating processes to simulate a wood grain effect.

a) Decoral: a transfer system Italy . Available w. wide Apply polyester powder, green bake, apply transfer, remove air between powder & transfer (vacuum chamber), bake. Mainly used on flat surfaces. Process can be expensive due to the expensive equipment required (vacuum).
b) Powder on powder: Apply powder, bake, apply powder and brush off to form grain effect - bake. I believe dev and sold by Becker Powders. Any shape can be coated but finish similar to wood ex a saw mill because the two films of powder do not flow together.
c) Artpow: one bake system, no prints, low cost, smooth any shape of profile. Nylon or thermosetting powders. Grain effect not as good as Decoral (but okay for most industrial applications). Only sold in UK. These are the three basic approaches to creating a wood grain effect.

A. Mr. Farooqui,

I know it doesn't do you any good to get responses from people that can't help you, but I've been in the powder coating business for 16 years and haven't seen this done. I also just read an internet article where the author was answering the same question; he basically said that the mechanics of powder coating don't lend themselves to this process. If you have any luck in finding a procedure, write again and let everybody know. Good Luck.
P.S. Most of the manufacturers' sites have visual samples of all of the "special effects" paints that are available.

A. Dear Sirs,

Powder coating to simulate a wood grain effect has been around for many years. Nearly every powder wood grain special is a two bake system -- and the method of how to obtain the effect is only divulged upon payment for the right to use their system. One or two of these suppliers also require you to purchase certain equipment, this can cost $300,000.

We supply a one bake system that has been in use in the UK for many years and we do not charge our UK customers for the process -- but they do have to sign a secrecy agreement not to divulge how our one coat wood grain effect is achieved.

I am sorry I cannot divulge how wood grain effects are achieved; it is sufficient to state that they have been around for many years, but to gain this knowledge you will have to pay a high cost.

A. In agreement with one of the replies above, I can say that I have seen this process working and affirm that it works in a one coat system.

The graining effect is very realistic, and the appearance is like woodgrain veneer.

A. Dear Sheldon,

As far as I am aware there are about six suppliers in the world - all in Europe. It is possible that finished items have found their way over the pond or certain coaters have a licensing agreement with a European mfgr.

Such items that are being produced: Doors (house) - garage doors - tables - display work - curtain rods and many other things. Anything that is currently made from wood could in many cases use powder wood grain effect - SAVE THE RAIN FOREST! About 50% of the systems on offer are only suitable for flat surfaces but are a mirror image of wood. The remainder are acceptable to designers and their clients and will produce a wood grain effect on any profile aluminum or mild steel.

The ability to pass 1000 hours UV B seems to be acceptable standard.

I can assure you that even under close inspection (visual) it is very difficult to state with conviction what's wood and what's powder -- only to the touch can you be certain: wood giving a warm feel and metal being cold.

Once I think I know everything, look what happens! LOL, thanks for all the good information. Anything to save the rain forest is certainly worth the effort (did anybody tell those guys that they can stop deforesting now?)

A. Hi Guys, Check out "Naturall" it should answer some of your questions. Hope this helps. Drew Devlin - Lincolnshire A. Since we have been given the name of one Italian supplier "Naturall" I think it is only fair to give some of the other suppliers' product names: Italy: Naturall, Decoral, Woodall; UK: Artpow Terry Hickling Birmingham, United Kingdom ---- Ed. note: But is it "only fair" to small suppliers for us to promote their large international competitors with free advertising and not them, and "only fair" to the advertisers, whose support is making this site possible, to bill them for promotion of their competitors who choose a free ride? Sorry, but the only way for finishing.com to achieve our mission of the exchange of technical help in a free, honest, friendly, no registration required forum not drowning in spam & sales blather, is to exclude the possibility of commercial benefit from postings. We receive hundreds of spams daily; if a small piece of proprietary promotion occasionally slips through, surely the required repair isn't to throw open the floodgates to comment spam :-)

A. Wood effect (2 layer type) can be achieved in two ways; either by applying a first powder coating layer (usually polyurethane ) and cure it to lower limit then apply a film that is already prepared for this job; the other method is by applying the second layer also of powder coating and before curing an automated brush shape the requested finish, and then cure with the requested wood effect.

A. There are several woodgrain effects in different systems on the market and mainly developed in Europe.
Sublimation, liquid on powder, or powder on powder.
You can choose out of several sublimation film suppliers, different suitable powders and equipment manufacturers all depending on your needs.

A. Besides the one and two-coat powder coatings, and the sublimation approach, yet another path to woodgrain effect is liquid film transfer, or "water transfer printing". A wood effect sort of like a decal is floated on water; the part is placed into the water and this "liquid decal" adheres to the surface.

Regards,

A. Dear Friends,

Please be informed that we are in the same field since 9 years and there are several options you may have on that process. Sublimation on powder coated surface, powder on powder, wet on powder and finally water printing.

A. You could try anodizing it, then silk screening the wood grain pattern on. Dave Wichern Consultant - The Bronx, New York A. That is pretty simple. Do the appropriate pre-treatment followed by powder coating. The best powder for this is Poly Urethane but even Pure Polyester works. PU gives better UV resistance. Most top of the line powder suppliers have special powders for sublimation transfer. Once the powder coat is cured, you can apply an activator which is principally a glue. On that you apply the heat transfer paper and then re heat the object once more. Once it is out of the oven and cool enough to handle remove the paper and you have wood finish on the metal surface. Gurvin Singh Mohali, Punjab, India A. Dear Jim, Using Artpow you will be able to decorate any shaped profile -- it does not need to be a flat surface. By the way Artpow works with Nylon also. We are in the UK so you would need to see if the volume of metal to be coated warrants the high cost of importing this material and technical service would be non-existent -- not that we have had any problems in 7 years. Terry Hickling Birmingham, United Kingdom ---- Ed. note: Generic descriptions, not brand names please, gentle readers.

A. Hi Jim,

It is simple!

You just need to do the heat transfer printing on it. This process is the most simple and cheap. The only thing is that you need to buy a heat transfer machine.

It works by applying the vacuum on heat transfer wrapped aluminum profiles and then heating them up to 200 °C and that's it!

Regards,

A. The other respondents seem to point to a decorative solution. Is this what you want? Or do you need a real three dimensional engraved pattern? If so, you would need to send it to an engraving house. By means of chemical solutions spread over the aluminum surface treated with a special print, a 3D raised pattern identical to the selected wood grain will appear. This is commonly known as chemical texturing and is mostly used to decorate internal surfaces of plastic injection molds to impart the plastic parts the aspect and texture of leather, wood, fabrics, etc.

A. Hi Sheldon and others,

We supply woodgrain finishings in powder to powder process. We are using PVDF for the woodgrain and normal powders for base coat. Base coat depends on the application and warranty requirements. It's been around for a few years over here. And we supply mainly for the Australian market. Australia has a harsh climate and we coat to achieve AS standards.

Dear sirs.
I read all the above posts.
I research very much about this subject but there is not good information or I can't find it.
Now I decide to purchase a wood effect system (powder on powder)
When it starts working I will send you photos and information.
Thanks.

Hi Mahdi. We look forward to your update! Sorry that you found the page unsatisfying. There are some limits to what the forum can offer; as Terry indicated, how to do woodgrain powder coating is proprietary rather than generic knowledge, and it is only shared with licensees.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey