Get the Blast Profile Right for Edge Adhesion – Lesson From Encrypted Coatings
Lessons from Encrypted Coatings on edge retention, consistency, and passing adhesion tests, every time.
When adhesion fails, nothing else matters. Powder, paint, Cerakote, if it doesn’t bond, you’re redoing parts, burning hours, and risking losing customers. That’s why the best shops don’t just aim for “clean.” They aim for the right profile, everywhere, edges included, and they hit it the same way, every time.
Recently we talked with Jacob Magner (Encrypted Coatings, PowderCoatingTools.com, and admin of one of the largest powder coating groups on Facebook). He’s run just about every abrasive you can name. What finally stuck? A balanced, repeatable profile with EpiX MP. Here’s what he learned, and how you can use it.
The Sweet Spot: Not Too Smooth, Not Too Rough
Adhesion is earned at the surface. Too smooth or too shallow, and coatings don’t adhere properly. Go too rough and you get peaks that telegraph through topcoats. Jacob found the sweet spot with EpiX MP, a profile that unlocks strong adhesion and still lays down as a premium finish. That difference shows up as fewer do-overs and more first-time passes.
Why It Matters
- Mechanical bite: Coatings grip a controlled profile, not a polished smooth surface.
- Film integrity: Overly rough surfaces require thicker films, which can lead to orange peel, runs, and cure swings.
- Repeatability: Same profile → same cure window → same results, batch after batch.
Edge Retention: Where Good Jobs Fail
Edges are where adhesion quietly dies. Jacob’s production customers run ASTM adhesion tests and saw better pulls on sharp edges after switching from common media (coal slag, garnet, aluminum oxide) that tended to peen over edges and flatten the anchor profile. With EpiX MP, they kept a defined bite that holds the coating around corners. A weak spot turned into a win.
If you’re failing tape at corners, don’t blame the powder first; check your edge profile.
When the Blast Becomes the Look
Clean, even blasting isn’t just a Quality Control line item; you can see it. Jacob now has customers who like the blasted finish so much they clear-coat the EpiX surface, especially on aluminum. That only happens when the blast is bright and uniform, not patchy or streaked. If customers want to show off your blast, your process is dialed.
Stop Selling Labor. Start Selling a Finish.
Consistency in your parts shows up in your P&L. Like Jacob, many shops find that higher perceived quality brings better work and stickier customers. Some will even pay more to get on your schedule sooner—because they’re buying outcomes, not hours. That’s the shift from selling labor to selling a finish.
A Simple Recipe You Can Run This Week
- Pick the cut: Start with EpiX MP for a balanced anchor profile on steel and aluminum when you need both adhesion and cosmetics.
- Tune the air: Pressure + CFM + dry air. Water or oil in the line kills adhesion before you start.
- Hit the geometry: Don’t loaf on flats and “kiss” the corners—index parts so edges meet the stream squarely.
- Keep the ratio right: Too much media = slow and dusty. Too little = burnish and low profile. Aim for velocity and flow, not “more grit.”
- Clean hand-off: After strip/etch, blast to bright metal, blow down thoroughly, don’t bare-hand the part, and coat promptly to avoid re-oxidation.
- Verify, don’t guess: Run coupons and edge-feature tape pulls. Log nozzle, standoff, angle, pressure, and media life with each job.
- Lock the window: Once your pass rate and finish are there, write the recipe so every tech can reproduce it—shift to shift, job to job.
What Changed at Encrypted Coatings
- Balanced profile: A medium cut that holds coatings without printing through topcoats.
- Edge wins: Stronger pulls on sharp edges and better ASTM results with EpiX MP.
- Finish consistency: Uniform enough that some customers request a clear-coated blast as the final look.
- Business impact: Quality so obvious that customers offer to pay more to shorten lead times.
Ready to turn adhesion into an advantage? Start where adhesion starts—the blast. EpiX MP is engineered to hit that profile sweet spot so you can pass tests, delight customers, and price for value.
Next Steps
- Talk with a 10X blasting specialist about your parts, substrate, and target profile.
- Try EpiX MP on your most edge-heavy parts and run your usual adhesion tests.
- Lock the recipe and start selling your finish, not your labor.
Thanks to Jacob Magner of Encrypted Coatings for sharing his experience with EpiX MP and the power of a consistent, edge-friendly profile.