Metals Used & Finishes on HingeandLatch Products

We offer the following Metal, Finish & Color choices:

All Black Polyester Powder Coating for HDG and Stainless Steel is done in the USA to ensure a consistent high quality.

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Metals Used & Finishes on HingeandLatch Products

With our products there are 3 Finish choices and 2 Color choices:

All Black Polyester Powder Coating for HDG and Stainless Steel is done in the USA to ensure a consistent high quality.

After 1,000 hour salt spray test.
Which Finish do you want on your Gate Hardware?

Our Supplier's Finish.
Little to no rust, no rust migration & no detachment of the surface coating.

The Competition.
Excessive rust, dramatic rust migration & advanced detachment of the surface coating.

Back

Metals Used
Carbon Steel
Our suppliers specify a high quality carbon steel for all the steel based products. Carbon steel has the advantages of being very strong and reasonably priced. Its chief disadvantage is that, in its untreated state, carbon steel rusts very quickly when exposed to water and/or salt. It is therefore important that a very high quality finish be applied to it to resist corrosion, see Metal Finishes below. Used in all products except Stainless Steel.

Stainless Steel
Grade 304 is the standard “18/8” (contains approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel) stainless; it is the most versatile and most widely used stainless steel, available in a wider range of products, forms and finishes than any other. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. Its chief advantage over carbon steel is that it is very rust resistant and ideally suited for most interior and exterior environments. However, it is not quite as strong as an equivalent piece of carbon steel and more expensive.
Grade 316 is commonly referred to as “Marine Grade” stainless steel. It contains more nickel than 304 stainless steel but what distinguishes Type 316 from Type 304 is the addition of molybdenum up to a maximum of 3%.
Molybdenum increases the corrosion resistance of this chromium-nickel alloy to withstand attack by many industrial chemicals and solvents and, in particular, inhibits pitting caused by chlorides. As such, molybdenum is one of the single most useful alloying additives in the fight against corrosion.
Type 316 is the main stainless used in the marine environment, with the exception of fasteners and other items where strength and wear resistance are needed, then Type 304 (18-8) is typically used. Basically, while 316 stainless is much more resistant to salt and water corrosion it is not as strong and is more brittle than 304 stainless.
Products made of 304 and/or 316 stainless steel are non-magnetic while those made of carbon steel are magnetic.
All the Stainless Steel products we sell are designated “SS” and are either 304 (SS) or 316 (316 SS) stainless steel, the actual grade will also be shown. Many “SS” products are also available with a high quality Black Polyester Powder Coat (see below for details) and are designated “SS BLK” or “316 SS BLK”.

Metal Finish Information
Galvanizing or Hot Dipped Galvanizing
The term “galvanizing” is used today to describe two completely different processes. Originally, “galvanizing” referred to the process which is better described as Hot Dipped Galvanizing. In hot dipped galvanizing the product is acid washed and then dipped into a vat of molten zinc. This results in the product being fully coated in a layer of corrosion resistant zinc. This process is not exact in that, while all parts of the product are coated, the coating varies in thickness and may have uneven areas as the excess zinc runs off the surface when it is removed from the vat. Hot dipping creates a metallurgical bond between the steel and zinc. In the event of damage to the zinc coat rust does not migrate under the zinc.
Years later, the term “galvanized” was also used for product that was coated with a very thin layer of zinc that was applied electrostatically. While this produces an even smooth coat it offers very poor protection against rusting. In the event of damage to the electroplate rust migrates readily under the coating.
Products we sell which are designated “GALV” are Hot Dipped Galvanized.

Powder Coating
Powder coating is a process where product is hung on a rack or moving line where an electrical charge is applied to the rack or line while fine powder of the opposite charge is sprayed in the air that the product is passing through. The thickness of the powdered paint can be controlled and is applied evenly with no runs or sags. After the powder is applied the product goes through an oven that bakes the finish.
Products we sell designated “BPPCG” (Black Polyester Powder Coat over hot dipped Galvanized) use this high quality process. Black Polyester Powder coating is also applied to some stainless steel products and designated SS BLK for grade 304 and 316 SS BLK for grade 316.
Unlike the cheaper epoxy powder coats, polyester coatings are much more UV resistant and durable.

Metals Used
Carbon Steel
Our suppliers specify a high quality carbon steel for all the steel based products. Carbon steel has the advantages of being very strong and reasonably priced. Its chief disadvantage is that, in its untreated state, carbon steel rusts very quickly when exposed to water and/or salt. It is therefore important that a very high quality finish be applied to it to resist corrosion, see Metal Finishes below. Used in all products except Stainless Steel.

Stainless Steel
Grade 304 is the standard “18/8” (contains approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel) stainless; it is the most versatile and most widely used stainless steel, available in a wider range of products, forms and finishes than any other. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. Its chief advantage over carbon steel is that it is very rust resistant and ideally suited for most interior and exterior environments. However, it is not quite as strong as an equivalent piece of carbon steel and more expensive.
Grade 316 is commonly referred to as “Marine Grade” stainless steel. It contains more nickel than 304 stainless steel but what distinguishes Type 316 from Type 304 is the addition of molybdenum up to a maximum of 3%.
Molybdenum increases the corrosion resistance of this chromium-nickel alloy to withstand attack by many industrial chemicals and solvents and, in particular, inhibits pitting caused by chlorides. As such, molybdenum is one of the single most useful alloying additives in the fight against corrosion.
Type 316 is the main stainless used in the marine environment, with the exception of fasteners and other items where strength and wear resistance are needed, then Type 304 (18-8) is typically used. Basically, while 316 stainless is much more resistant to salt and water corrosion it is not as strong and is more brittle than 304 stainless.
Products made of 304 and/or 316 stainless steel are non-magnetic while those made of carbon steel are magnetic.
All the Stainless Steel products we sell are designated “SS” and are either 304 (SS) or 316 (316 SS) stainless steel, the actual grade will also be shown. Many “SS” products are also available with a high quality Black Polyester Powder Coat (see below for details) and are designated “SS BLK” or “316 SS BLK”.

Metal Finish Information
Galvanizing or Hot Dipped Galvanizing
The term “galvanizing” is used today to describe two completely different processes. Originally, “galvanizing” referred to the process which is better described as Hot Dipped Galvanizing. In hot dipped galvanizing the product is acid washed and then dipped into a vat of molten zinc. This results in the product being fully coated in a layer of corrosion resistant zinc. This process is not exact in that, while all parts of the product are coated, the coating varies in thickness and may have uneven areas as the excess zinc runs off the surface when it is removed from the vat. Hot dipping creates a metallurgical bond between the steel and zinc. In the event of damage to the zinc coat rust does not migrate under the zinc.
Years later, the term “galvanized” was also used for product that was coated with a very thin layer of zinc that was applied electrostatically. While this produces an even smooth coat it offers very poor protection against rusting. In the event of damage to the electroplate rust migrates readily under the coating.
Products we sell which are designated “GALV” are Hot Dipped Galvanized.

Powder Coating
Powder coating is a process where product is hung on a rack or moving line where an electrical charge is applied to the rack or line while fine powder of the opposite charge is sprayed in the air that the product is passing through. The thickness of the powdered paint can be controlled and is applied evenly with no runs or sags. After the powder is applied the product goes through an oven that bakes the finish.
Products we sell designated “BPPCG” (Black Polyester Powder Coat over hot dipped Galvanized) use this high quality process. Black Polyester Powder coating is also applied to some stainless steel products and designated SS BLK for grade 304 and 316 SS BLK for grade 316.
Unlike the cheaper epoxy powder coats, polyester coatings are much more UV resistant and durable.

All Black Polyester Powder Coating for HDG and Stainless Steel is done in the USA to ensure a consistent high quality.

Metals Used & Finishes on HingeandLatch Products

After 1,000 hour salt spray test.
Which Finish do you want on your Gate Hardware?

Our Supplier's Finish.
Little to no rust, no rust migration & no detachment of the surface coating.

The Competition.
Excessive rust, dramatic rust migration & advanced detachment of the surface coating.

With our products there are 3 Finish choices and 2 Color choices:

Back

Back

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Salt spray testing is the industry standard for determinig how well a product's surface coating is stable and its ability to resist rusting over time.
This test involve placing a sample in a cabinet and spraying it with a salt water solution for many hours.
A deep scratch is made in the surface of the sample so that it penetrates the surface coating and into the metal substrate underneath.

Our supplier runs this test on samples of their products for 1,000 hours to ensure the finishes applied to their products meet their high quality standards. After the test the sample is examined to see if the coating has not flaked and that any rust that forms in the scratch is confined to the scratch and has not migrated under the coating.

Close up of the deliberate scratch on our Supplier's sample after 1,000 hours in the salt spray cabinet.
Little rust, No rust migration and No detachment of the surface coating.

Close up of the deliberate scratch on one of our Competitor's samples after 1,000 hours in the salt spray cabinet.
Excessive rust, Dramatic rust migration and Advanced detachment of the surface coating.

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Metals Used & Finishes on HingeandLatch Products

Salt spray testing is the industry standard for determinig how well a product's surface coating is stable and its ability to resist rusting over time.
This test involve placing a sample in a cabinet and spraying it with a salt water solution for many hours.
A deep scratch is made in the surface of the sample so that it penetrates the surface coating and into the metal substrate underneath.

Our supplier runs this test on samples of their products for 1,000 hours to ensure the finishes applied to their products meet their high quality standards. After the test the sample is examined to see if the coating has not flaked and that any rust that forms in the scratch is confined to the scratch and has not migrated under the coating.

Close up of the deliberate scratch on our Supplier's sample after 1,000 hours in the salt spray cabinet.
Little rust, No rust migration and No detachment of the surface coating.

Close up of the deliberate scratch on one of our Competitor's samples after 1,000 hours in the salt spray cabinet.
Excessive rust, Dramatic rust migration and Advanced detachment of the surface coating.

---

---

Powder Coating
Powder coating is a process where product is hung on a rack or moving line where an electrical charge is applied to the rack or line while fine powder of the opposite charge is sprayed in the air that the product is passing through. The thickness of the powdered paint can be controlled and is applied evenly with no runs or sags. After the powder is applied the product goes through an oven that bakes the finish.
Products we sell designated “BPPCG” (Black Polyester Powder coat over hot dipped Galvanized) use this high quality process. Black Polyester Powder coating is also applied to some stainless steel products and designated SS BLK for grade 304 and 316 SS BLK for grade 316.
Unlike the cheaper epoxy powder coats, polyester coatings are much more UV resistant and durable.

Other Processes
All of the products we sell are “SS”, “SS BLK”, “HDG” and “BPPCG”. We show some other different coating processes as below but no longer supply any products with these less robust finishes.

E-coating
E-coating has been used as one of the main anti-corrosive processes in the automotive industry since the 1950’s.
An unfinished product is immersed in a bath containing an electrophoretic paint emulsion, and then an electric current is passed through both the product and the emulsion. The paint particles that are in contact with the product adhere to the surface and build up an electrically insulating layer. This layer prevents any further electrical current passing through, resulting in a perfectly level coating even in the recessed parts of complex-shaped goods. The product is then removed from the paint bath and baked in an oven.
E-coating is not UV Stable and therefore requires a polyester powder coat over it when product is intended for exterior use. This process results in a thinner coat of zinc being applied and once scratched can allow corrosion to bleed under the finish.
Most Black Powder Coated product on the market uses this process and therefore offers inferior corrosion resistance versus Hot Dipped Galvanized.

Zinc Phosphate
Zinc phosphate is an inorganic chemical compound used as a corrosion resistant coating on metal surfaces either as part of an electroplating process or applied as a primer pigment.