Metal Finishing Is One Area Where You Don't Want To Cut Corners

A tight budget is not unusual for many companies, even if they are large industrial facilities. In fact, the larger the company, the stricter the budget can become, simply as a cost-control measure to ensure no one department goes wild with purchasing. Cutting a corner here and there can sometimes be justified, but one area where you should never cut corners is metal finishing. When you manufacture metal parts, you want the finished product to be something that lasts and that customers see as a good deal. Without that finishing step, however, those parts can turn into Trojan horses that give customers more trouble than the part is worth.

Injury From Burrs and Rough Patches

One such bit of trouble is injury from metal burrs, rough spots, and so on. Metal needs to be smoothed out before going to its final home with a customer because anyone installing the part -- or even merely holding it -- could cut themselves on the roughed-up metal. Metal splinters are extremely unpleasant, too, and the puncture wounds they cause can increase the risk of tetanus in those who are overdue for their booster shots.

Part of the finishing process involves sanding or grinding away those rough patches and sharp areas. Drop the finishing, and you have a potentially damaging piece of metal. Keep the finishing process, and you have smooth metal that does not pose a hazard merely by touch.

Poor Fit and Increased Wear

The rough surface of a metal piece that hasn't gone through a finishing process also provides a worse fit. That rough patch or burr might not create the smooth surface the part needs to work correctly in machinery. And even if the part technically fits, it could create wear on adjacent parts as the rough metal acts like sandpaper on any other parts that rough metal touches.

If you're thinking that the rough patch in question is fairly small and doesn't really change the profile of the part, you haven't realized how much the smoothness or roughness of the metal really affects everything around it. Don't skimp on the finishing process. Buy industrial finishing equipment parts that are high quality, so that your finished metal products work well for a very long time. You can look for reconditioned parts to save money or ask about package deals; some companies may offer these because they realize how important having all the right parts can be.

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