Aluminum VS. Steel

Aluminum is the preferred medium for powder-coated light fixtures because aluminum is resistant to rust and corrosion. Powder-coated steel, though a sturdier metal, is prone to rust and doesn't perform as well in outdoor areas. Porcelain enamel-coated lighting offers a better solution as the steel shade is sealed in layers of porcelain enamel glass. This creates a more durable finish that will not fade in the sun like powder-coated metals.

Barn Light Electric is a proud American manufacturer of vintage-inspired lighting and America's only producer of porcelain enamel lighting. Our fixtures are hand spun from both aluminum and steel depending upon which finish is selected. For Barn Light's exclusive porcelain enamel finish, shades are spun from solid steel then coated with multiple layers of porcelain enamel glass. This process, which includes firing the shade in a 1,500-degree oven, completely seals the metal and achieves our signature high-gloss finish. Our porcelain enameled steel shades result in heirloom-quality lighting that is sure to stand the test of time.

Shades that receive a powder coat finish are hand spun from aluminum, the most abundant metallic element on Earth. Aluminum is very lightweight compared to steel which is 2.5 times denser than aluminum thanks to a high concentration of carbon. Powder-coated aluminum lighting is considerably more flexible than steel lighting which makes it easier to hand spin on a lathe. Another reason aluminum lighting is better than steel lighting is aluminum's malleability and smooth fabrication. These characteristics allow the aluminum to form intricate and precise shapes giving our artisans significant design freedom. Steel is more rigid thus more difficult to maneuver during the spinning process.

A key reason why aluminum lighting is better than steel lighting, unless it's finished in porcelain enamel, is its natural resistance to rust and corrosion. Aluminum is enhanced by a layer of aluminum oxide which acts to protect the metal from exposure to air and oxygen, the two elements that start the corrosion process.