Surface Preparation

A coating is only as good as the surface under it. Without proper surface preparation, even the best powder coating or industrial coating will blister, peel and pull away from the metal, leaving your equipment open to rust and corrosion. At Arkansas Painting & Specialties (APS), we prepare the surface of equipment, parts and metal before we apply a powder coating or industrial coating.

Since 1993, APS has prepared and coated equipment, parts and metal for local and regional customers from our shop in Little Rock. Our abrasive blasting is done in-house, in a controlled environment.

Why Surface Prep Matters

Oil, grease, rust, mill scale and old paint all sit between the metal and a new coating. If they stay, the coating bonds to them instead of the metal, and it fails early. Substandard surface preparation will eventually lead to a failed coating system. Good surface preparation for coating:

• Removes Contaminants – Strips old paint, rust, mill scale and grime so nothing is trapped under the new finish.
• Gives the Coating Something to Grip – A clean, blasted surface lets the coating bond to the metal itself.
• Protects Your Investment – A coating that bonds properly lasts for years in harsh environments, so you aren’t paying to do the job twice.

How APS Prepares Metal Surfaces

Every surface is different, so we match the abrasive to the part. Most metal surface preparation at APS is done with abrasive blasting. Depending on the surface, the standard abrasives we use are steel grit, dry ice, corn cob, copper slag, walnut and coconut shell.

We can also blast machinery clogged with oil, dirt and grease to restore function. Once a part is clean, we can give it a powder coating finish or an industrial coating in the same facility.

Only need the prep? If you just want a piece of equipment or metal restored down to the original substrate, we can blast it without coating it.

An SSPC QP3 Certified Shop

APS is one of the few SSPC QP3 certified shops in the region. QP3 is the certification from SSPC, the Society for Protective Coatings (now part of AMPP), for shops that prepare surfaces and apply coatings in their own facility. We keep up with the latest technology, materials and training, because from preparation to application and curing, every step should be done with attention to detail, following the proper procedures in a controlled environment.

We work on everything from a family chair being restored to farm equipment, pumps and valves for oil and gas, water and wastewater, and construction. If you can get your equipment on a truck and bring it to us, we can complete the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is surface preparation?

Surface preparation, or surface prep, is cleaning a part down to sound metal by removing oil, grease, rust, mill scale and old coatings, so a new coating bonds to the metal instead of to whatever was on it.

Can you blast my part without coating it?

Yes. If you only want equipment or metal restored down to the original substrate, we can do the abrasive blasting by itself.

Which abrasives do you use?

It depends on the surface. The standard abrasives we use are steel grit, dry ice, corn cob, copper slag, walnut and coconut shell.

Where is your shop?

Arkansas Painting & Specialties is at 1610 E 9th St, Little Rock, AR 72202. We’re open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4 PM. Call (501) 376-4617.

Need Surface Preparation in Little Rock Arkansas?

1. Contact Us – Just call the shop at (501) 376-4617.
2. Get Your Free Quote – Tell us about your project, and we’ll provide you with a quote.
3. Protect Your Asset – Bring your piece into the shop, and we’ll get to work.