Studio Steel · Finishes & Paint Systems
Eight-stage industrial coating system. PPG fluorocarbon topcoat. Standard on every unit.
High-speed physical blasting — laser shotting, sandblasting, or abrasive blasting — removes mill scale, rust, and surface contaminants to Sa2.5 grade cleanliness. Blasting also increases surface roughness, which improves coating adhesion at every subsequent stage.
Degreasing removes heavy oil contamination and residual impurities from the blasted profiles. A high-temperature pure water rinse follows, preventing mineral deposits from interfering with adhesion at the next stage.
The phosphate solution etches into the steel surface, forming a dense 10–15 µm chemical conversion layer. Steel surface reactivity drops from an activity level of 10 down to 1, providing self-corrosion protection at the surface and the chemical foundation for the E-coat layer above.
E-coat is an electrodeposition process that uniformly deposits a dense epoxy resin film across the entire workpiece at approximately 30 µm, including internal profiles, weld zones, and complex geometry that spray-applied primers cannot consistently reach. It establishes the primary corrosion protection base for the full system, with salt spray test resistance of 1,000+ hours before any topcoat is applied.
TIGER electrostatic powder coat goes over the E-coat layer and cures at approximately 200°C for 15 minutes. The powder melts and fuses into a dense, continuous film bonded tightly to the E-coat base, delivering scratch resistance, surface hardness, and coating build. Color is not carried at this stage — powder coat is the substrate the PPG topcoat bonds to.
Two full sanding passes run after the powder coat cures and before topcoat application, clearing residual surface contaminants — including any foaming or blowing defects that can form during powder cure — so the surface is completely smooth before the PPG fluorocarbon topcoat goes on.
The final finish layer, engineered for long-term UV stability, extreme weather resistance, and color retention in coastal and high-UV climates. Surface fullness, gloss, and texture are optimized at this stage. Color is applied from the curated Studio Steel palette.
Final baking ensures the topcoat tightly interlocks with the powder layer, preventing fading or peeling during long-term use. After 100% inspection, units are packaged with multiple layers of cushioning material to protect against damage during transport and installation. Total system build is approximately 210 µm across the E-coat, powder coat, and topcoat layers combined.
Studio Steel ships in eight colors — three core finishes and five from the California Collection. Color is applied at Stage 7, the PPG fluorocarbon topcoat. For any color-critical specification, order a physical sample — produced using the complete eight-stage system on actual steel — before finalizing.
- Black — Exterior & interior. The most frequently specified Studio Steel color.
- White — Interior only. Exterior UV and weathering resistance requirements do not apply indoors.
- Oil-Rubbed Bronze — Exterior & interior. Hand-brushed finish, specified for historic and period-restoration projects.
- Sunset Pink — Exterior & interior. PINKYS' primary brand color, introduced in Spring, 2024 with the California Collection.
- Palm Desert Sand — Exterior & interior. A neutral tone; compatible with monochromatic schemes and darker façade materials. Takes on a sage or olive appearance in some environments.
- Montecito Mint — Exterior & interior. A cool-toned accent referencing Spanish Revival architectural precedent in Montecito, California.
- Angeles Green — Exterior & interior. A deep, verdant green referencing the Angeles National Forest.
- Casual Khaki — Exterior & interior. A warm neutral.
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