Coating Vendor guidesGuides for engineers and buyers sourcing metal coating and plating.https://coatingvendor.com/RoHS and REACH Compliance for Plated and Coated Parts: What to Ask For and What the Tests Showhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/rohs-reach-compliance-plated-coated-parts/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/rohs-reach-compliance-plated-coated-parts/RoHS plating compliance explained: limits per layer, which finishes put Cr(VI), lead or cadmium on a part, REACH Article 33, and what a shop should hand you.Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat the PFAS Restrictions Mean for PTFE-Coated Parts and Your RFQhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/pfas-restriction-ptfe-coatings-buyers/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/pfas-restriction-ptfe-coatings-buyers/PTFE is a PFAS. Where the EU restriction stands, which rules already apply in the US, and how to word drawings and RFQs for PTFE-coated metal parts today.Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTEN 1811 Nickel Release: What the Limits Mean for Plated Parts That Touch Skinhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/en-1811-nickel-release-plated-parts/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/en-1811-nickel-release-plated-parts/EN 1811 nickel release limits explained: 0.5 and 0.2 micrograms per cm2 per week, the two-year coating rule, EN 12472 wear tests and how to write it on an RFQ.Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTZinc Flake Coatings for Fasteners: When to Specify Them and What to Checkhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/zinc-flake-coating-fasteners/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/zinc-flake-coating-fasteners/Zinc flake coating explained for fasteners: no hydrogen embrittlement, typical thickness, salt spray targets, torque-tension control and when to choose it.Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWear Surfaces: Choosing Between Hard Anodize, Nitriding and Hard Chromehttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/wear-resistant-coating-hard-anodize-nitriding-chrome/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/wear-resistant-coating-hard-anodize-nitriding-chrome/Wear resistant coating options compared: hard anodize, nitriding and hard chrome by base metal, case depth, hardness, distortion, hydrogen risk and typical use.Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTAnodizing Vendor Selection: Which Shop Runs Type II or Type III for Your Partshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/type-ii-vs-type-iii-anodizing/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/type-ii-vs-type-iii-anodizing/Anodizing vendor selection for Type II or Type III: what to confirm with the shop on thickness, growth, sealing, color and cost before you send the RFQ.Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTTrivalent Passivates on Zinc: Clear, Yellow and Black Comparedhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/trivalent-passivate-zinc-clear-yellow-black/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/trivalent-passivate-zinc-clear-yellow-black/Trivalent passivate zinc finishes compared: clear, yellow and black films, typical corrosion performance, sealers, heat limits, cobalt and what to specify.Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTSilver, Gold and Tin Plating for Electrical Contacts: Thickness, Wear and Failure Modeshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/silver-gold-tin-plating-electrical-contacts/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/silver-gold-tin-plating-electrical-contacts/Silver plating contacts compared with gold and tin: typical thickness, nickel underplate, wear, tarnish, whiskers, contact force and what to state on an RFQ.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat Salt Spray Hours Really Mean for Coated Partshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/salt-spray-test-astm-b117-hours/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/salt-spray-test-astm-b117-hours/What salt spray hours mean on a drawing: why 500 or 720 hours are not years outdoors, white rust vs red rust and how to write a callout a shop can test.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTRack vs Barrel Plating: Which Process Your Parts Need and Why It Changes the Pricehttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/rack-vs-barrel-plating/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/rack-vs-barrel-plating/Rack vs barrel plating compared: part size, lot size, thickness spread, contact marks, damage risk and cost. How to choose and what to write on an RFQ.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTPowder Coating Pretreatment, Cure and Adhesion Testing: What Decides Whether It Lastshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/powder-coating-pretreatment-cure-adhesion/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/powder-coating-pretreatment-cure-adhesion/Powder coating pretreatment steps, typical cure schedules and adhesion tests such as cross-hatch, impact and MEK rub, plus what to state on a drawing or RFQ.Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThread Fits After Plating: How to Set Allowances for Coated Threadshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/plating-thread-allowance-coated-threads/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/plating-thread-allowance-coated-threads/Plating thread allowance explained: how coating thickness grows pitch diameter, 2A vs 3A and 6g vs 6h limits, nuts and tapped holes, drawing callouts.Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTOutdoor Powder Coating for Enclosures and Brackets: Systems That Lasthttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/outdoor-powder-coating-enclosures-brackets/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/outdoor-powder-coating-enclosures-brackets/Outdoor powder coating for enclosures and brackets: polyester, polyurethane and epoxy compared, pretreatment, primers, edge failure, UV tests and RFQ tips.Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTFinishes for Medical Device Parts: From Passivation to Anodize and PVDhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/medical-device-coating-passivation-anodize/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/medical-device-coating-passivation-anodize/Medical device coating options for stainless, titanium and aluminum parts: passivation, electropolish, titanium anodize, PVD, sterilization limits and RFQ tips.Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTMasking for Plating and Anodizing: Plugs, Tape and Lacquer Comparedhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/masking-for-plating-and-anodizing/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/masking-for-plating-and-anodizing/Masking for plating and anodizing explained: plugs, caps, tape, lacquer and wax compared, typical edge tolerance, cost drivers and how to mark a drawing.Sat, 24 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHot-Dip Galvanizing vs Zinc Electroplating: Thickness, Life and Where Each Fitshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/hot-dip-galvanizing-vs-zinc-plating/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/hot-dip-galvanizing-vs-zinc-plating/Hot dip galvanizing vs zinc plating compared: thickness, outdoor life, appearance, thread fit, distortion, size limits and which to specify for steel parts.Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCoatings for Food Equipment Parts: What Food Contact Allows and What It Does Nothttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/food-grade-coating-food-equipment-parts/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/food-grade-coating-food-equipment-parts/Food grade coating for equipment parts: contact vs non-contact zones, passivated stainless, PTFE, anodize, powder coat, what to avoid and what to request.Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTElectroless Nickel Phosphorus Content: Choosing Low, Mid or High Phosphorushttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/electroless-nickel-phosphorus-content/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/electroless-nickel-phosphorus-content/Electroless nickel phosphorus content explained: low, mid and high phosphorus compared for hardness, corrosion, magnetism and wear, plus heat treat tips.Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCoating Thickness Measurement: XRF, Eddy Current and Magnetic Methodshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/coating-thickness-measurement-xrf-eddy-current/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/coating-thickness-measurement-xrf-eddy-current/Coating thickness measurement methods compared: XRF, eddy current, magnetic, coulometric and cross section. Which gauge fits which coating and base metal.Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTChromate Conversion Coating: MIL-DTL-5541 Type I vs Type II on Aluminumhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/chromate-conversion-coating-mil-dtl-5541/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/chromate-conversion-coating-mil-dtl-5541/Chromate conversion coating on aluminum explained: MIL-DTL-5541 Type I vs Type II, Class 1A vs Class 3, electrical contact, paint base and RFQ wording.Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCadmium Replacement Coatings for Aerospace Parts: Zinc-Nickel, IVD Aluminum and Othershttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/cadmium-replacement-coating-aerospace/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/cadmium-replacement-coating-aerospace/Cadmium replacement coating options for aerospace parts compared: zinc-nickel, IVD aluminum, tin-zinc and zinc flake. Properties, trade-offs and approval steps.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCVD vs PVD Coating: Temperature, Thickness, Stress and Edgeshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/cvd-vs-pvd-coating/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/cvd-vs-pvd-coating/CVD vs PVD coating compared: process temperature, thickness, conformal coverage, residual stress, edges, substrates and which suits inserts, drills or dies.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTDecorative PVD Colors on Stainless Steel and Brasshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/decorative-pvd-colors-stainless-steel/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/decorative-pvd-colors-stainless-steel/PVD colors on stainless steel explained: which chemistry gives gold, rose, black or gunmetal, how to set a ΔE tolerance and what brass or zinc parts need first.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTDLC Coating Types: From a-C:H and WC/C to ta-Chttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/dlc-coating-types-vdi-2840/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/dlc-coating-types-vdi-2840/DLC coating types per VDI 2840: a-C, ta-C, a-C:H, a-C:H:Me and Si-doped a-C:H compared by hydrogen, sp3 bonding, hardness, friction, heat limit and typical use.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to Specify PVD Coating on a Drawing and RFQhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/how-to-specify-pvd-coating-rfq/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/how-to-specify-pvd-coating-rfq/PVD coating specification guide: function, coating and thickness, coat and no-coat zones, fixturing, edge prep, Ra, temperature limit, tests and a sample note.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow PVD Coating Adhesion, Thickness and Hardness Are Testedhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-coating-adhesion-thickness-testing/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-coating-adhesion-thickness-testing/PVD coating adhesion test methods explained: Rockwell C to VDI 3198, scratch test, ball crater thickness, nanoindentation hardness and what the cert must show.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTPVD Coating Temperature vs the Tempering Temperature of Your Parthttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-coating-temperature-substrates/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-coating-temperature-substrates/PVD coating temperature compared with tempering and aging limits for D2, H13, M2, 440C, 17-4PH and aluminum, plus the materials a PVD chamber cannot take.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTypes of PVD Coating by Hardness, Temperature and Usehttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-coating-types-tin-ticn-altin-alcrn/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-coating-types-tin-ticn-altin-alcrn/Types of PVD coating compared: TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, AlTiN, AlCrN, CrN, ZrN and TiSiN by hardness, oxidation limit, friction, color and the jobs each one suits.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTPVD Deposition Methods: Cathodic Arc vs Sputtering vs HiPIMShttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-deposition-methods-arc-sputtering-hipims/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-deposition-methods-arc-sputtering-hipims/Cathodic arc vs magnetron sputtering vs HiPIMS: ionization, droplets, rate, temperature and surface finish, plus rotation, bias and etching in the PVD chamber.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTPVD vs Electroplating, Hard Chrome and Electroless Nickelhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-vs-electroplating-hard-chrome/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-vs-electroplating-hard-chrome/PVD vs electroplating compared on thickness, hardness, corrosion, coverage, hydrogen embrittlement and Cr(VI) rules, plus when to stack PVD on a plated base.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTAutomotive Fastener Coatings: Corrosion Hours, Friction and Torque Behaviorhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/automotive-fastener-coating-corrosion-torque/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/automotive-fastener-coating-corrosion-torque/Automotive fastener coating options compared: zinc, zinc-nickel and zinc flake, typical corrosion targets, friction windows, torque-tension and hydrogen risk.Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTAnodizing 6061, 7075 and Cast Aluminum: How Alloy Changes Color and Finishhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/anodizing-aluminum-alloys-6061-7075-cast/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/anodizing-aluminum-alloys-6061-7075-cast/Anodizing aluminum alloys compared: how 6061, 6063, 7075, 2024 and cast alloys differ in color, thickness, hardcoat quality and defects, plus RFQ tips.Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTIn-House Finishing vs Outsourcing: What Actually Changeshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/in-house-vs-outsourcing-finishing/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/in-house-vs-outsourcing-finishing/The real cost and control tradeoffs between running plating or coating in-house and outsourcing to a finishing shop, beyond the equipment purchase price.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBlack Oxide vs Zinc Plating: Which One Belongs on Your Drawinghttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/black-oxide-vs-zinc-plating/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/black-oxide-vs-zinc-plating/Black oxide and zinc plating both finish steel but solve different problems. Corrosion, dimensional change, cost and hydrogen embrittlement risk compared.Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTPVD Coatings Explained: TiN, CrN and DLC for Hardened Partshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-coatings-explained/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/pvd-coatings-explained/How PVD coatings work, what TiN, CrN and DLC each do best, thickness and hardness ranges, and what to check before specifying PVD on hardened steel.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTPassivation vs Electropolish: Two Different Jobs on Stainless Steelhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/passivation-vs-electropolish/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/passivation-vs-electropolish/Passivation and electropolish both finish stainless steel but solve different problems. What each process does, when to specify one, the other, or both.Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTQuestions to Ask a Plating or Coating Shop Before You Send Partshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/questions-to-ask-a-plating-shop/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/questions-to-ask-a-plating-shop/The questions that separate a shop that runs your spec from one that is learning on your parts: process frequency, certs, tank size, bake and paperwork.Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHydrogen Embrittlement and the Relief Bake: What to Put on the Drawinghttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/hydrogen-embrittlement-relief-bake/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/hydrogen-embrittlement-relief-bake/Why hardened steel cracks after plating, what the hydrogen relief bake actually does, and how to specify it so a shop bakes on time and records it.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTMetal Finishing Specs Explained: ASTM, MIL-SPEC and AMS Cross Referencehttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/metal-finishing-spec-cross-reference/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/metal-finishing-spec-cross-reference/A plain-language cross reference for the plating and coating specs buyers see most: ASTM, MIL-PRF, MIL-DTL and AMS numbers, what each covers and where they overlap.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe EU Chromium(VI) Restriction and Your Plated Parts: What to Change Nowhttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/eu-chromium-vi-restriction-plated-parts/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/eu-chromium-vi-restriction-plated-parts/The EU plans to restrict chromium(VI) under REACH. Where the process stands, which finishes it touches and what to change on drawings and RFQs this year.Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat Drives the Cost of Plating and Coating a Parthttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/plating-and-coating-cost/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/plating-and-coating-cost/Why plating and coating quotes differ: rack and barrel loads, lot charges, masking, bake, spec paperwork and thickness. What you can change on the drawing.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat to Put on a Coating RFQ: Spec, Thickness, Masking and Rackinghttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/coating-rfq-checklist/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/coating-rfq-checklist/What a plating or coating RFQ needs so shops can price it first time: base material, spec and class, thickness, masking, racking points, lot size and tests.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to Choose a Metal Coating Supplier: What to Check Before You Send Partshttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-metal-coating-supplier/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-metal-coating-supplier/How to pick a plating, anodizing or powder coating shop: process, spec approval, tank size, test reports and the questions to ask before the first lot ships.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTZinc, Zinc-Nickel, Electroless Nickel, Anodize or Powder Coat: Matching the Finish to the Parthttps://coatingvendor.com/blog/which-metal-finish-for-your-part/https://coatingvendor.com/blog/which-metal-finish-for-your-part/Zinc, zinc-nickel, electroless nickel, anodize and powder coat compared by base material, corrosion, wear, thickness and cost, with the spec to write for each.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT