Paint, powder & polymer coatings · finish comparison
Rubberized Dip Coating vs Soft-Touch Coating
Rubberized Dip Coating (paint, powder & polymer coatings) and Soft-Touch Coating (coatings for plastics) solve the same problem by different routes; rubber dip resists corrosion better.
Rubberized Dip Coating
Paint, powder & polymer coatings · $$
Rubberized dip coating forms a thick flexible grip or protective skin on metal handles and similar parts.
Soft-Touch Coating
Coatings for plastics · $$$ · instant quote
Soft-touch coating is a flexible polyurethane-class finish that gives rigid plastic a warm, rubber-like tactile feel and improved grip.
When to choose which
Choose Rubber dip
Choose Rubber dip when a much thicker resilient grip is acceptable.
- Creates a resilient non-slip grip
- Provides cushioning and impact damping
- Can add electrical insulation when the exact system is qualified
Choose Soft-touch
Choose Soft-touch when a thin cosmetic tactile film is needed.
- Typical film is 20–40 µm
- Creates a premium rubber-like hand feel
- Improves dry grip without changing the molded tool
What the numbers say
- Rubber dip resists corrosion better.
- Rubber dip is the lower-cost option ($$).
- Soft-touch is the thinner coating (20–40 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Rubber dip | Soft-touch |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 45 Fair | 20 Low |
| Surface hardness / wear | — — | 5 Minimal |
| Cosmetic quality | 55 Good | 85 Excellent |
| Lubricity | 5 Minimal | 5 Minimal |
| Cost | 35 $$ | 40 $$$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Rubber dip | Soft-touch |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 250–2,000 µm | 20–40 µm |
| Electrical | Insulating | Insulating |
| Colours | black, red, blue, yellow, custom product color | clear, black, custom color |
| Relative cost | Standard ($$) | Premium ($$$) |
| Added lead time | 4–10 working days | 3–7 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | On request | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Rubber dip | Soft-touch |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Yes | With care |
| DMLS / SLM | Yes | No |
| Polymer | Limited | Yes |
| Steel | Yes | With care |
| Brass | With care | With care |
| Composite | — | With care |
| Copper Alloy | With care | With care |
| FDM | No | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | Limited | With care |
| MJF | Limited | With care |
| SLA | No | With care |
| SLS | Limited | With care |
| Stainless Steel | With care | With care |
| Titanium | With care | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
Rubber dip vs Soft-touch — frequently asked
What is the difference between Rubber dip and Soft-touch?
Rubberized Dip Coating (paint, powder & polymer coatings) and Soft-Touch Coating (coatings for plastics) solve the same problem by different routes; rubber dip resists corrosion better. Rubber dip is the lower-cost option ($$). Soft-touch is the thinner coating (20–40 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
When should I use Rubber dip instead of Soft-touch?
Choose Rubber dip when a much thicker resilient grip is acceptable. Conversely: choose Soft-touch when a thin cosmetic tactile film is needed.
Is Rubber dip or Soft-touch cheaper?
Rubber dip is the lower-cost finish ($$ against $$$ for Soft-touch) among the finishes FabDigit quotes. Both are priced per part with a lot minimum; the exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.