Have you ever wondered why so many variations of powder coating hooks exist? I mean, at the end of the day don't they all serve the same purpose? Sure there are different sizes and such necessary for varying projects but if you're anything like me, you still ponder why the different shapes? What's the difference between an S and a V hook and why do some customers prefer one to the other. Well today is the day that both you and I finally learn not only the true difference between these beloved hooks but which hooks are best suited for you and your projects at hand.
Let's start with what I consider to be a universal fan favorite, the S hook. It looks just as you would think, a big metal S. But this specific letter shape actually serves a much greater purpose then just convenience. Because of the way an S is shaped, this style hook allows you to hang your piece facing the opposite way of which the hook is hung, allowing you to spray from an optimal angle that will allow for less blockage from the actual hook itself. This is beneficial because when a hook is blocking any part of the piece you're spraying, it creates a faraday zone. This means the small area that the hook is in the way of or blocking won't want to absorb the charged powder particles as much as the rest of your piece. This paired with its range of thickness that allows it to accommodate multiple different sized projects is what makes it such a universal hook. It is definitely the most accommodating of all hooks.
You would think starting off our endeavor on learning about the hooks would automatically bring more clarity but it actually left me wondering even further why do we have all these different shaped hooks when the S hook seems to be such a solid choice that can pretty much handle anything? Well, it turns out there are other scenarios where you need something more precise compared to something so universal. Let's take the V hooks for example. The beauty of the V hooks is that the v comes to a single point which means every piece is going to sit at that point which helps it to achieve being sprayed at that exact same angle every time.The V hooks are great for precision and symmetry.
A few of our other hook options include C hooks and CV hooks. The C hook has similar benefits to the S hook where because it is thicker in width it allows for varying sizes to fit on the hook. The main difference is that you can't have it face the opposite direction when spraying like you can with the S hook. So the C hook is perfect for projects where you want your pieces facing into the booth but not much else. The CV hook is the best of both worlds. It allows you to spray bigger pieces but also gives you the option to flip it around and spray things at the exact same point. It's really just a hook of convenience.
Shapes aside, you also have claw hooks, spring pipe tube hooks and swivel hooks. Claw hooks are used for very specific projects where you need something to be gripped well but with minimal marks left behind. The spring pipe tube hook was created with cylinder shapes in mind. The hook is shaped like an open clothes pin and you squeeze it together and insert it into the cylinder shape you're spraying in which it will open back up and grip the piece from the inside using the outward pressure to hold the piece in place. This way ensures that there will be no grip marks anywhere. The benefits of a swivel hook are it's 360 degree rotation which allows a part to be evenly sprayed on all sides as it rotates.
Now that we know the importance of making sure you're using the best hook for the piece you're spraying to achieve an optimal finish outcome, lets talk where you can find them. Powder Buy The Pound has an extensive hook collection that consists of each and every one of the hooks we discussed above and more! We also have a plethora of various hook assortment packs. We have extra long hooks, extra small, etc. So give our hook selection a browse on our website or give us a call at 615-776-7600 with any further questions or inquiries you may have. We are always happy to help and look forward to hearing from you!