[TheForge] finishing as in painting or coating large metalworks

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

this question concerns metalworking and finishing large projects.
with forged gates or fence that is to be either painted or clear coated
do you outsource it or do you finish it in house?

i am thinking that it would depend on the finish and the surface finish
of the metal as to whether i would send it out or do it in house.
spraying gates or fence generally do not require a spraying booth
and curing lights. i would not attempt to spray paint a car unless it
was a beater or a vw minibus and i was recapturing the 60s and 70s once
again. ;-)

there are several projects that would require spray painting and i am
wondering if it would just be better to out source them to an auto body
shop that has the curing lights and spray booth.

part of this question comes from a book i was reading today while
staying indoors to escape the dreadful heat outside. the author spends
severals chapters covering what colors people are more adapt to notice
compared to other colors that the author suggests that people just
"look past" or "look through". he points out several studies that people
see and recognize a bright yellow fire truck much better than the
standard fire engine red color. the author suggests that brighter and
more pastel colors are more appealing to people than the dark subdued
colors. the author does suggests that people do not notice the details
in objects when they are finished in the darker colors. i must admit
that the author's viewpoint is in opposition of the earthtone colors
that i have been seeing in home decor.

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>