Can a powder-coated frame rust?

Steel and water have an old argument, and rust is how the water wins. Can a powder-coated frame rust? Any steel can rust when water and air reach it. Our frames are coated, so the steel is covered, and our care advice is about keeping that coat clean, dry and whole. Where the coat is chipped or scratched through to the steel, the steel is exposed, and that's the point to stop and contact us.

What rust is

Rust is iron oxide. It forms when the iron in steel reacts with oxygen in the presence of water. The finish and the room both matter: the coat covers the steel, and a dry room keeps water away from the whole piece.

Powder coat is applied as a dry powder and cured into a hard, even coat over the steel. Our five finishes, Obsidian, Oxblood, Gilt, Chalk and Forge Clear, and any RAL colour, are all coated. Forge Clear is a clear coat over the steel, so it keeps the look of the steel itself while still covering it.

Where problems start

On a coated frame, the places to watch are the places where the coat could be broken.

• Chips, where something hard has struck the frame: a buckle, a clip, a dropped object, a knock during moving.
• Scratches deep enough to go through the coat, from abrasive cleaning or a sharp edge.
• Areas that stay damp, where spills or cleaning water are left to sit.
• The areas around the rings and wherever restraints rest, which are handled most.

Surface marks on the coat leave the steel covered. A chip that reaches the steel leaves it exposed.

What to do if the coat is chipped

If you find a chip or a scratch that goes through to the steel, stop using the piece and contact us before it's used again. Send a photograph and your order number, and we'll advise you on what to do next.

Don't sand, file or paint over the area yourself. A frame used for restraint needs its finish, and everything beneath it, to be as it should be.

Keeping water off the frame

Rust needs water, so the habits that matter most are the ones that keep water off the frame. Dry it thoroughly after every clean or spill, paying attention to the rings and the corners where parts meet, and keep each piece in a dry, ventilated room away from prolonged moisture and direct sunlight. If the room tends to be damp, deal with the damp first. Avoid abrasives and harsh chemicals, which may compromise the finish; our guide to using bleach on a powder-coated frame covers cleaning products.

Through the seasons

Rooms change through the year. In winter, cold walls and windows can gather condensation, and a room that's closed up for long periods can become damp. Air the room regularly, keep it evenly heated, and wipe away any condensation that forms near the piece. In summer, keep the piece out of strong direct sunlight.

What you won't need to do

Because every finish we offer is coated, there's no waxing, oiling or polishing to do. Looking after a coated frame comes down to gentle cleaning, thorough drying, keeping metal off the frame between uses and checking it before each use.

Rooms to think twice about

Some rooms make keeping water off a frame harder. A bathroom, a room next to a shower, a conservatory that gathers condensation, a basement with damp walls or a room that's rarely heated all ask more of any steel furniture. If one of these is the only space you have, deal with the damp and ventilation first, and have a qualified tradesperson look at anything structural.

If a piece isn't in use for a while

If you take a piece down to store it, follow the printed instructions in reverse, keep the fixings together, and store the parts somewhere dry and ventilated. Wrap them in something breathable, such as blankets or cotton sheets, rather than sealing them in plastic, which can trap moisture. Before you reassemble, look over every part, and if anything has chipped through to the steel, contact us before the piece is used again. Once it's back together, re-tighten every fixing before it's used again.

Checks before every use

Before each use, look over the frame, its fixings and the rings, and the finish around them. If anything has moved, loosened or chipped through to the steel, stop using the piece and contact us before it's used again. Our guide to checking your furniture before each scene sets out the full routine.

Questions about rust

I've found an orange mark on the frame. What should I do?

Stop using the piece and contact us with a photograph and your order number before it's used again.

Can I use a rust remover or a touch-up paint?

No. Contact us before trying anything on the finish.

Does the finish colour make a difference?

No. Every finish we offer is coated, Forge Clear included, and each is cared for the same way.

Our care guide sets out the routine in brief, and our guide to cleaning and caring for steel restraint furniture covers it in full. Our guide to what powder coating is explains the finish itself. Every piece in our BDSM beds, St Andrew's crosses and BDSM cages collections is coated in the finish you choose, made to order with a current lead time of 8–14 weeks.