A guide to powder-coating hooks
To help you choose the right masking hooks for your powder-coating process, we’ve put together this guide. Here we’ll cover:
What are powder-coating hooks?
Painted components are typically the result of the masking process. Let’s say you manufacture a product designed to be the color red. You can either powder coat it yourself – the process of applying paint to the component – or turn it over to the finishing industry.
Powder-coating hooks – also called paint hooks or paint-hanging hooks – ensure an efficient masking process, including e-coating operations. These hooks hang from racks. Components are then hung on the hooks for powder coating.
Paint hooks are also necessary for material handling in the chain of production. Fortunately, you have a wide selection of masking hooks to choose from.
Which powder-coating hook should you choose?
Paint hooks come in various shapes. The shape you use comes down to two factors. Which one will help you achieve the finish you’re after? And which hook will enable you to do that quickly, efficiently and with minimal or no mistakes?
You also need to consider the load the powder-coated hooks will have to support. Heavy duty/high-load-capacity hooks are available, as are powder-coated hooks for lightweight components. The examples below offer holding capacities ranging from 4 lbs to 80 lbs.
The shapes of powder-coated hooks
S-shaped powder-coat hooks have bends that turn in opposite directions. This wire hook makes it hassle free to hang wide parts or parts with different thicknesses. Another benefit is that the S-hook lets you hang parts in different directions if you need to. It also enables you to achieve specific paint lines configurations, or form a vertical chain to hang more parts for powder coating at the same time.
These wire hooks for powder coating feature a v-shaped bend by coming to a single point. This point enables each component to sit securely in their hook, in the exact same place. The advantage of this uniformity is that the paint or coating are less likely to build up. The V-hook also provides excellent load stability.
The wide gaps at both ends enable this paint hook to hang wider parts of different shapes and sizes.
These powder-coated hooks offer the best of C-hooks and V-hooks. The C-shaped bend accommodates different-sized parts, while the v-shaped end helps to prevent paint build-up. This versatility makes CV-hooks especially handy, especially if you’re powder coating assorted parts. With one hook style, you can use it for two different needs.
Benefits of using powder-coating hooks
There are many benefits to using powder-coating hooks. They increase the efficiency of the masking process. It’s quick and easy to hang these paint hooks on your rack, and then hang the components you’re painting onto the hooks.
Also, the ability to hang a part improves your paint coverage. Depending on your rack system, you can move behind the part to powder coat, without having to touch the part. Even if you can’t easily move behind it, it’s still easy to cover the back. You can work quickly, which enables you to perform a quick turnaround.
Metal and wire powder-coating hooks can withstand high temperatures. You can also re-use them, saving money on your next paint job with the same requirements.
Still others can handle high-load capacities, making it easy to powder-coat heavy parts. For example, hanging wheels during powder coating is easy with the appropriate paint hook and rack.
An example is our V-shaped square wire hook, shown here, which can hold 220 lbs. The square V shape is ideal for maximum load bearing and is manufactured out of square bar stock.
Powder-coating racks
On the topic of heavy-duty items, you need to think about several issues other than your hanging solution. For example, if you use a rack or cart designed for heavy-duty parts, you could roll it into your oven to cure the items, provided the oven is large enough, of course, and the rack or cart has caster wheels.
Buying a ready-made rack to accommodate large parts is expensive, of course. To powder coat heavier parts, many shop floors design and make their own sturdy frames. If you’re going to do this, pay attention to your racking parts, such as caster wheels. Only use wheels at least six inches in size. Anything smaller requires more maintenance than you likely have time for (paint easily clogs smaller wheels).
If you’re rolling your frame or rack into your oven, then you’ll also want cast steel or aluminum wheels. The reason here is that whatever material you use will have to withstand temperatures of around 400°F, so get it right the first time.
Efficiency in racking comes down to density
Achieving efficiency with your masking process is not the job of your paint-hanging hooks alone. Your racking system also plays a key role.
For smaller and mid-sized parts, space density on the line determines the efficiency of your powder-coating operations. The more parts hung on one line, the more cost savings you can realize. You don’t have to sacrifice quality for speed; you want your customer happy with the job, after all.
Always use racking that suits the requirements of the coating job within your operational limitations. You can find efficiencies in faster loading of each rack and in your rack transfer.
Powder-coating solutions
You may need masking solutions, such as caps, plugs, tubes and tapes. Most can be used for different masking processes, and all can make your operations more efficient by eliminating waste and re-dos. You can see our complete range here.
Download free CADs and try before you buy
Download free CADs and request free samples, which are available for most of our solutions. It’s a great way to ensure you’ve chosen exactly what you need. If you’re not quite sure which product will work best, our experts are always happy to advise you.
Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast dispatch. Request your free samples or download free CADs now.
Questions?
Contact us at sales@essentracomponents.com or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 800-847-0486.