Powder coating is more durable than other types of coatings, and it doesn't require a lot of maintenance. If you simply wash off your coating with some soapy water once in a while, it should be fine, and you don't even need to worry about drying it that well as these coatings are impervious to rust.

However, after a long time or if you've bought an old powder coated item, you may need to do some repairs. Here are some tips to help you if your powder coating is chipping or flaking. 

1. Remove Flakes

Identify the area where the powder coating has started to flake and remove any loose bits. To do that, simply run over the area with a wire brush, a piece of steel wool or a putty knife. Consider following up the process with a fine-grit sandpaper. To ensure all the flakes are gone, you can brush the area, run a vacuum over it or wipe it with a wet cloth.

2. Tape Off Area

Then, put tape over the area where you're going to apply the new powder coating. The tape should go all the way around the area where you have removed the old flaking powder coating, and it will probably include some powder coating that is still intact.

3. Put on a Primer

To help the powder coating patch stick, you should apply a primer. Zinc tends to work the best with most metals, but you may want to consult with a professional to see what they recommend. The zinc primer is a liquid coating which you can brush or sponge on to the area.

4. Touch Up

At this point, you can apply touch-up powder coating to the area that you are primed. This comes in a can, and before applying it, you should wait until the primer is fully dried. Usually, with original powder coating, you only need to do a single coat, but with touch-ups, you may need to do more than one coat.

5. Remove the Tape and Feather

After you have applied the powder coating, you should remove the tape. Remove the tape while the coating is still slightly wet. If you wait until the coating is dry, you may rip off some of the coating when you remove the tape. Then, wait for everything to dry.

If your repair doesn't quite match the rest of your powder coating, you can feather the edges. To do this, run some steel wool or sandpaper over the edges of your patch. Create a feathery pattern to blend everything together visually.

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