How to Prepare for Painting Metal

Every surface is unique, and when it comes to painting them, you must take into account a variety of factors like paints for metals. Metal surfaces are among the various surfaces that must be treated differently and adhere to fundamental preparation guidelines. Metals, for example, require particular coatings to maintain their lifetime. In this blog, we'll go over some recommendations for painting metal surfaces and avoiding difficulties like shorter lifespan, which is a common issue.

Ensure the surface is clean

This may appear to be a simple step, but it is crucial. Any type of metal surface must first be cleaned of contaminants such as dirt, old paint, grease, and rust before painting. You can clean the metal using sandpaper or another scraping tool that can quickly remove grease, dirt, and other deposits. 

Mineral spirits can be used if the grease deposits are really heavy. You can also use other methods, such as cleaning with a mild detergent solution to remove stubborn grime.

Remove loose paint

In many circumstances, the previous paint will be peeling or loose on the surface. Make certain that the previous paint is thoroughly peeled away. Several hand cleaning procedures, including wire brushing, sanding, and scraping, can be used to accomplish this. 

Other approaches, such as employing power cleaning tools, produce quick results, but they may polish the metal surface, potentially causing adhesion issues. If you paint while the old one is still in place, the paint may eventually flake off.

Eliminate rust

If rust is present on a metal surface, it will interfere with and impair the adhesiveness of paint, reducing the paint's lifespan dramatically. As a result, it's critical to remove any rust before applying the metal paint.

If the rusting is minor, you can repair it with easy techniques such as sanding, brushing, or adding a quality primer with rust-inhibiting characteristics. If you apply paint to rusted metal, it will not only peel off eventually, but the paint may rust as well. There are many other concerns that can be avoided by carefully removing the rust before applying paint.

The use of Primer

When applying metal paint to metal surfaces, keep in mind that priming is the most critical step before applying the paint. Instead of utilising water-based primers, utilise rust-inhibiting primers, galvanised primers, or iron oxide primers. These are some better alternatives. To prevent rust or debris from forming on the surface, a primer is placed immediately after washing it. If you don't use a primer before painting, the paint's lifetime will be reduced, and you'll have to repaint the surface.

 
No matter if you are painting door paint or metal gate paint, these are standard steps that you have to keep in mind when applying new paint on metal surfaces. The steps are simple, clean the surface from any sort of dirt, grease, rust or loose paint and apply primer after that. If you do this, you are good to go and can paint the particular surface easily without worrying about issues.

For more information about concrete machinery, drill bits nz, trowel and paints for metals visit our website.

A Short Guide on How To Maintain Your Trailer

No matter what machinery you own or use, they will all require maintenance at some point. Having a trailer is no different. To ensure optimal performance and extend its lifespan, you will need to maintain it appropriately. To assist you, we have compiled a list of helpful hints for you to use. There are various places that sell trailer accessories throughout New Zealand if you need to replace your old parts, but if you want to get the most out of your trailers, you should create a habit of performing maintenance monthly or at least quarterly. 

We've included some expert advice on how to clean and maintain your trailer: 

Wash your trailer 

Washing your trailer more frequently is an excellent way to keep it in a good working condition. Soapy water should be used for washing, followed by a hose rinse. There are various places where filth might accumulate, such as the reflective plates and lights, so you'll have to spend more time cleaning them. Pay attention to the undercarriage as well, since road dust can build and harm moving parts.

Keep your trailer away from rust

If you neglect your trailer's upkeep, it will rust, and the rusted sections will cause problems in the future. The ideal technique is to wash your trailer while keeping an eye on the rusty sections and places. To remove the rust areas, sandpaper or steel wool can be used. After you've finished washing the trailer, let it dry completely before applying rust-proof paint. After the paint has dried, apply a coat of wax to the areas that have been painted. Whether or not your trailer requires a touch-up, it is always a good idea to do so. Applying it may appear needless or excessive, yet it is beneficial in keeping the trailer parts NZ rust-free.

Brakes 

Brakes are an essential component of your trailer and should be at the top of your to-do list. Here are a few brake-related tips that you can use. 

Ensure that the sliding hitch actuator is lubricated.

Override brakes are simple and do not take much attention, but there are a few things you should check to verify they are working properly. Lubricating the hitch actuator is the simplest and most basic step. Pump grease into the nipple on the hitch receiver side to complete this simple task. Also, you don't need to do this very often; once or twice a year is sufficient, but you must keep an eye on the actuator to ensure it does not appear or remain dry. When you notice dryness, just apply grease and everything will be great.

Ensure that the lock tab is lubricated.

The break lock tab should be checked next. Many drivers have difficulty reversing up a slope or over a curb. When the lock tabs are turned over, the brakes that aid in reversing are activated.

The backward would perform without a proper brake lock tab, causing the sliding hitch to apply the brakes. The brake tabs have a tendency to corrode and then seize in the "brakes off" position; you must ensure that this does not happen. All you have to do is lubricate the lock tab on a regular basis and you're ready to go.

Your Guide to Drill Bits

Knowing which drill bits NZ-wide to use and when to use it increases your chances of getting the task done correctly the first time. With so many applications for these instruments, there are a variety of drill bits available that are dedicated to specific jobs. Understanding what they all do will go a long way toward ensuring the success of your project.

A drill bit is a detachable tool that attaches to a drill and creates a hole in the material you're working with. Because some are more suited to cutting through specific materials than others, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You'll be able to make the proper hole in the right place if you know what size drill bit to use.

The following are the most important factors to consider. 

The Material

Before you go out and get a drill bit, be sure you know exactly what you're going to use it for. Do you intend to drill into stone or wood? Do you need to drill a hole in a stiff substance like glass, or do you need to drill a hole in a flexible material like plastic? The first thing you should think about is what you're drilling into.

Accuracy

You'll also need to evaluate how accurate you need to be once you've matched the tool to the material. Some are better for making smooth holes, while others are better for making rough ones. Again, having a clear grasp of the job you're performing is critical because you'll be able to select the optimum drill bit for the job.

Drill Bit Features and Useful Term

While drill bits come in a variety of shapes and sizes, they all share some common characteristics. Knowing the different parts can assist you in making purchases for your project:

• Point - The cutting end is a cone-shaped, pointed end. A spur and a cutting lip make up this part.
• Spur - The spur is located in the exact centre of the point. This aids in the placement of the drill.
• Cutting lip - The material is scraped away by the cutting lip. This is a trait that varies from one bit to the next.
• Flutes - A flute or channel spirals up the body of the drill bit from the cutting lip to the shank, ending with the shank. The flutes aid in the removal of displaced material by the cutting lip.
• Shank - With a straight shank drill bit, the piece of the drill bit is either clamped onto a spindle or directly into the drill's chuck. 

You may see these terms when you’re searching for drill bits, so it’s worth taking the time to learn what the different parts of a drill bit are called as well as the function they perform. The importance of getting the right drill bit of the job increases when there is a high chance of task failure on the first try. So, it is better that you should have basic knowledge of drill bits before you opt to buy one. We hope that this article helped you in increasing your knowledge about drill bits and you’ve found the answer you were looking for.

Why Commercial Facilities Should Consider Switching to LED Lighting

 Electricity is something that every industry uses for different purposes. Even if you do not directly use electricity to power your main equipment your industry is based on, simple things like lights still require electricity to run and help you get things done under proper lighting. So, if you are looking to cut down the electricity cost somehow, you do not have to think much, you can use industrial LED lights. If you have visited warehouses or factories of renowned companies, you will see how commonly industrial lights NZ wide are used. 

Benefits of Using LED lighting for commercial premises

There was a time where only some limited options of lighting types were available, but as of now, you have plenty of options when it comes to lighting up your premises. Industrial LED light fixtures are replacing other lighting types quickly. This is because of three main reasons: efficiency, light quality, and maintenance. Here is how LED lights get the upper hand over other counterparts.

Performance 

Light coming from LED light is of better quality and brighter because of two main reasons. Firstly, it has a very high colour rendering index and the objects revealed when they emit light to an object are close to natural light.

For example, if you have grass in your backyards, the grass will appear at night under industrial lighting and other colourless plants will appear under HPS. The second reason is that these lights emit light that covers the target area more precisely as compared to other lights. In simple words, all the areas will be covered properly with LEDs.

Efficient and Economical 

With proper industrial LED lighting, you are going to save an overall energy cost of up to 80%. The savings you will make are so significant that you can even finance the spare with energy cost savings that you will see in the results.

If you use a fluorescent light (commonly used in many commercial settings) mounted on the ceiling, it will produce light and spread 360 degrees with a lot of useless emissions into the ceilings. Some of the light can be redirected or reflected as per needs but there is a lot of light that goes into nothing which means the energy wastage is high. As compared, LED lights are more energy-efficient and produce light directionally which means that there is no wasted energy targeting the ceiling or other areas in the room. So, as there is no energy wasted, you will get more savings.

Low Maintenance 

Using LED means, you are going to use it for a long time and utilizing these means there is little to no maintenance cost and last four to five times longer than bulbs and other lighting. Industrial facilities are large and there are often waste products and disposal issues. As such, LED conversion or retrofit completion will help you to eliminate waste disposal related issues by changing high-intensity discharge lamps to newer smart technology.

However, keep in mind that the initial cost is higher but if you consider the lifespan, you are saving a lot of money. This means, purchasing LED industrial lighting is a good investment. Not just the longer life span, with the lighting you will most probably get a long product warranty or guarantee and a reduced hassle of maintaining the product.

How to Buy the Right type of Paint for Metals

If you’re thinking about cleaning up a few metal items and surfaces with a fresh coat of paint, there are a few things you need to consider. Painting metal is not as simple as painting other surfaces and unlike other materials, the metal itself requires special treatment. Painting metal is not an easy task and requires some thought go into it. Firstly, we’ll state from the start that there are different paints for metals.

Here’s a detailed guide that you have to follow before buying paint for your metal object:
Which type of paint is best?

Iron and aluminium metal have different characteristics; thus, they require different paint requirements too. Iron and zinc metal objects are more prone to rusting quickly, while aluminum objects have a smooth surface, so they need more viscous paint.

There’s a whole controversy that can be raised about what paint is more suitable for metals. Now, we are going to discuss types of paints, to find out which one is better.

Water-based metal paints are best for indoors

Water-based metal paints are best for metal objects that are going to remain inside. As they’re quite easy to paint on smooth surfaces, they give a shiny look, which is more durable than any other. They don’t need ages to dry out instead, provide an instant finishing and look. Water-based paints contain composites, acrylics, and so on. They are easy to clean out and washable.

Water-based paints are quite friendly as they don’t contain toxic chemicals, don’t have any bad smell, and don’t produce fumes. Always choose water-based paints to give a new look to indoor metal objects.

Oil-based metal paints are best for outdoors

Outdoors metal objects need more attention than indoors. They should be saved from rust, water, UV resistance, and weather too. Outdoor metal objects are definitely more prone to rust.

To prevent all of these potential problems, we have an option of oil-based metal paints. They are highly durable and give a deep, vivid color impression. Oil-based paints do fade off easily but prevent metal from rust. They are made up of resins, pigments, solvents, and plant-based oil.

Precautions: Don’t use oil-based paints indoors. Always do this task in a wide space, as they produce flames too.

Things to consider

There are a few things to consider so the painting process is as efficient and smooth as possible.

Always be specific

Before going to purchase paints, it’s important to know what you require, as not all paints suit all metals. Your dining chair requires different paint needs whereas, your window grills have other requirements. Choose oil-based or water-based paints wisely to get better results.

Use primers

Coating your metal with a primer layer can give it a few more years of life. Use primers according to paint type before the layer of actual paint. Wash the metal surface with soap, rough cloth, or aluminum-made rough papers to get rid of all the dust and rust before you begin painting.

The Ultimate Guide to Paints for Metals

 It’s often that the job of painting metal surfaces is neglected as it’s thought to be a difficult process. While there are a few key factors that need to be considered carefully when painting metals, it’s not as hard as it’s made out to be. In this blog, we’ll take you through a guide on how to use paints for metals. Hopefully, this blog will provide you with a deeper understanding of how to paint your metal surfaces. We’ll share some tips and tricks and discuss different paints for metals to help you avoid issues like a shortened lifespan. 

Clean the surface first

Starting with a clean surface is important and required for every paint job, whether you’re painting your walls or metal surfaces. It may seem like an obvious first step, but it’s often forgotten and needs to be made a priority. You need to make sure that there is no dirt, old paint, rust or grease present on the surface. You can clean the metal using sandpaper or a similar scraping tool that can remove grease, dirt and other deposits from the surface easily. In cases where the grease deposits are heavy and hard to remove, using mineral spirits will help. 

Remove the older peelings and loose paint

Paint remains on a surface for a certain period of time and peels off when it doesn’t have any holding power left. So, when painting your metal, you need to peel away old paint completely. To do this, you can use several manual cleaning methods like wire brushing, sanding, and scraping. Other methods include the use of power cleaning tools that will yield results in no time but beware that they may end up polishing the surface, which can cause problems like adhesion to arise. 

Remove rust

Remove any sort of rust. If you see any rust on a metal surface, it will eventually reduce the adhesiveness of paint which significantly reduces the lifespan of the paint. So, you need to eliminate the rust before you start to apply the metal paint.

There are different methods you can use to eliminate rust. If the rust is light, you can use brushing, sanding or can apply a primer that comes with rust inhibition properties. In cases where you apply paint on the rusted metal, it might peel off. If it doesn’t peel off, the paint may also get rusty. There are other issues as well that you can avoid by removing the rust properly before applying paint.

Apply Primer

No matter what metal surface you are painting, applying primer is one of the most crucial steps that needs to take place. There are different primers available; in certain cases it’s suggested that water bases are not used. Primers that have  rust-inhibition properties, galvanized primers and iron oxide primers are recommended. 

Primer is mainly applied straight after cleaning the surface to avoid any sort of dust, dirt or rust from occurring on the surface. If you do not apply a primer, you may end up decreasing the longevity of the paint and ultimately you will have to repaint the surface sooner than otherwise necessary. This will be costly for you, so you should invest in a quality primer.

Industrial LED Lighting for Commercial Use

In most industries, electricity is consumed a lot for different purposes and one of the areas that consume a significant part of the energy is lighting. You might have seen industrial lights NZ wide used commonly in most warehouses, factories and other similar areas.

You have to consider efficiently using lighting to lessen the overall facility’s cost. In this blog, we will specifically talk about how you can lower energy consumption where lighting is concerned. The best-known way is to use LED lights rather than the traditional ones and in this blog, we will try to shed some light on why most of the reputable industries use LED lights on their premises.

Why you should consider LED lighting for commercial premises: What are the different benefits?

Industrial LED light fixtures are replacing other lighting types quickly. This is because of three main reasons: efficiency, light quality and maintenance. Here is how LED lights get the upper hand over other counterparts.

Energy consumption and efficiency:

With proper industrial LED lighting, you are going to save an overall energy cost of up to 80%. The savings you will make are so significant that you can even finance the spare with energy cost savings that you will see in the results.

If you use a fluorescent light (commonly used in many commercial settings) mounted on the ceiling, it will produce light and spread 360 degrees with a lot of useless emissions into the ceilings. Some of the light can be redirected or reflected as per needs but there is a lot of light that goes into nothing which means the energy wastage is high. As compared, LED lights are more energy-efficient and produce light directionally which means that there is no wasted energy targeting the ceiling or other areas in the room. So, as there is no energy wasted, you will get more savings.

Reduced maintenance cost:

Using LED means you are going to use it for a long time and utilizing these means there is little to no maintenance cost and last four to five times longer than bulbs and other lighting. Industrial facilities are large and there are often waste products and disposal issues. As such, LED conversion or retrofit completion will help you to eliminate waste disposal related issues by changing high-intensity discharge lamps to newer smart technology.

However, keep in mind that the initial cost is higher but if you consider the lifespan, you are saving a lot of money. This means, purchasing LED industrial lighting is a good investment. Not just the longer life span, with the lighting you will most probably get a long product warranty or guarantee and a reduced hassle of maintaining the product.

Lighting quality and performance:

Light coming from LEDs is of better quality and brighter because of two main reasons. First is that it has a very high colour rendering index and the objects are revealed when LED emissions to a subject are close to natural light.For example, if you have grass in your backyards, the grass will appear at night under LEDs and other colourless plants will appear under HPS. The second reason is that LEDs emit light that covers the target area more precisely as compared to other lights. In simple words, all the areas will be covered properly with LEDs.