Clean Run Magazine - March 2010 - 38

MAX200.com Dog Supplies Paints and Coatings Many types of paints and coatings can be used to protect your equipment from the environment. When choosing one, you’ll need to consider the same types of factors as with material selection such as environmental conditions, what material is being painted, and cost. For example, a steel jump or contact frame requires a different type of coating than something made from wood, no matter what kind of wood it is. For metal parts, powder coating and spray painting are probably the most common coatings. For wood, high-quality exterior house paint works fine. No matter what is being painted though, proper preparation of the surface is critical to obtaining a long-lasting coating that will protect the equipment from the elements. THE MAX that perform to Powder Coating Powder coating is a very popular coating for steel because it is available in a wide variety of colors and is extremely durable and highly resistant to scratches and nicks as well as exposure to UV. But it is more expensive than spray painting. Powder coating is applied to the steel in a powder form and then baked on. It requires specialized equipment to prepare the steel, apply the coating, and bake it. To prepare the surface for powder coating, the metal piece is usually sandblasted to thoroughly clean it and achieve a semi-rough surface that allows the coating to adhere to the metal. The powder is then electrically charged and sprayed on so it will stick to the metal (similar to how static electricity can make a balloon stick to your arm). After the powder has been applied, the piece is then baked in an oven at 300°400° F, causing the powder to melt. If applied properly, as the powder melts it becomes liquid and flows into the many nooks and crannies of the piece to seal the metal in a protective coating. After baking, the piece is cooled and the coating is cured. Powder coating is wonderful and extremely durable but even it cannot guarantee complete elimination of corrosion since there are areas on various pieces that are very difficult, if not impossible, to apply the coating to. Obstacles for any venue Designed by agility instructors and manufactured by engineers with 30+ years of experience making dog training equipment Safe, strong, portable, and low maintenance Equipment rentals for trials & events Dumbbells, scent articles, gloves, jumps, ring gates/matting, rally signs/holders/numbers, and more Everything you need to train and compete in obedience and rally Practice box/jumps, regulation jumps Books • DVDs • Leashes, Collars & Harnesses Crates & Exercise Pens • Dog Beds • Grooming Tools & Tables Ring Gates & Matting • Gift Certiﬁcates & MORE AGILITY OBEDIENCE/RALLY FLYBALL SPray Paint Spray paint can also provide a nice finish for your equipment if applied correctly and can be considerably cheaper than powder coating. Spray paint does not require specialized equipment and can be applied by pretty much anybody; however, proper surface preparation is still critical to obtaining a lasting coating. If you plan to use spray paint for coating your equipment, first thoroughly clean the area to be painted. Lacquer thinner or acetone are good solvents to use for cleaning steel before painting, because once dry, they do not leave any residue on the steel that can affect the paint. Make sure when you use any solvent or paint that you are in a well-ventilated area and follow any precautions listed on the container. Clean Run | March 10 ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED CALL OR WRITE FOR A FREE CATALOG, OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD/PRINT A COPY OF OUR CATALOG DIRECTLY FROM THE SITE 2113 State Route 31 • Port Byron, NY 13140 Phone: 800.446.2920 • 315.766.9588 Fax: 315.776.9603 Email: info@max200.com

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Clean Run Magazine - March 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - March 2010