Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

December, 2005

Coating Aluminum K-9 Cages

Q. My department has 12 aluminum K-9 cages in our vehicles. We are having a problem with the aluminum oxidizing and then the canine rubbing on the cage gets the oxidization all over there fur then transferring it to the officers carpet and walls. My question is what can we used to paint the cages to stop the oxidizing? Thank you for any help you can give us.

A. Your best bet is to take the cages to job shop (custom coating shop) in your local area, which specializes in applying powder coatings. The job shop might need to disassemble the cages in order to be able to coat both the inside and outside surfaces. The shop must first prepare the surfaces using a chemical solution, and then the shop will apply a polyester powder coating to all of the surfaces that you want coated. Costs to powder coat the aluminum will depend on where you are located, and the complexity of cages design.

Best wishes,

Ron Joseph