Why finish products
- Surface treatments and finishes protect materials from damage, corrosion, rot and wear, and improve how products look and feel.
Finishes for each material
- Papers and boards: printing, embossing (raised areas), UV varnishing (glossy highlights) and laminating (a thin plastic layer for protection).
- Timbers: painting, varnishing, oiling, staining and waxing. Tanalising (pressure-treating with preservative) protects outdoor timber from rot and insects.
- Metals: painting, dip coating (dipping in melted plastic, as on tool handles), powder coating (a tough, even finish), galvanising (coating steel in zinc to stop rust) and anodising (for aluminium).
- Polymers: most are self-finishing, because the mould gives a smooth finish; they can also be polished or printed.
- Textiles: printing and dyeing add colour; stain-resistant and waterproof treatments protect fabrics; flame retardants improve safety.
Choosing a finish
- Match the finish to where the product will be used, such as galvanising an outdoor gate and varnishing an indoor table.
- Consider the look, cost, durability and safety, such as food-safe oil on a chopping board.
Key terms
- Galvanising
- Coating steel with zinc to stop it rusting.
- Powder coating
- Spraying a powder that is heated to form a tough, even coat.
- Dip coating
- Dipping hot metal in plastic powder to form a coating.
- Tanalising
- Pressure-treating timber with preservative.
- Embossing
- Pressing a design so it stands out from paper or board.
- Self-finishing
- Needing no extra finish, as with most moulded plastics.
- Anodising
- A treatment that thickens the protective oxide layer on aluminium.