Topic retread... Paint or Powdercoat?

[viatierra]

Wil had a nice thread about this earlier..

However, I'm thinking its time to address my tent rack. I've done the rattle can solution, but I'm not happy with how its working out. Repainting it is a pain since I have to mask my lights, tent, cab, etc. Plus I am getting rust in some unpaintable place (unless I take everything apart!)

On one hand I think powder coat might be better since it will seal it up, and the rack doesn't get too beat up. On the other hand, I don't want them to look like my powder coated sliders which now look GREY from the effects of dirt and sun.

I'm open to any innovative suggestions!

 

[James86004]

You could galvanize it.

I have had mixed results with powdercoating, but I have noticed that good quality powdercoating today is significantly better than good quality powdercoating 5 years ago. I was talking to a guy dropping off his sandrail at North American PC in Tucson. He said his last powdercoat job still looked perfect after going through lots of flying sand and gravel - the only thing that cracked it was when the tubes bent a lot when he wrecked it.

So, based on that, I would PC your tent rack.

 

[goodtimes]

When I built the rack on my Jeep, I used a HVLP paint gun and a satin black auto trim paint. I have no idea how well it will hold up against fading...it is only a month old....but it was much cheaper than powder coating it (primer + paint + reducer = ~$20).

 

[Mc Taco]

I was given the advice to paint the rack thats being built for my truck and then once I've thought of all the after thoughts that I want to add to it, put those on and get it powdercoated. The fading that you mention has me a little concerned. But hey, it will match my Line-X (to be fair I didn't go for the UV protection, was planning on a shell. Love my Line-X). I'm sure that you've put all the finishing touches on that you want to Greg. I'd get it powdercoated.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I wouldn't bother powder coating bumpers or sliders. They take to much of a beating and you'll end up rattle canning them anyway to fix the blemishes.

A rack, however, is a good candidate for powder coat. It' won't get much abuse so the $$ spent on coating won't go down the drain.

Geoross had his rear bumper coated for a very reasonable price down here in Tucson around 1-1/2 yrs ago. About $200 IIRC.

 

[viatierra]

Good thoughts so far... Yeah, I've had it for a year so far and am happy with the design. I won't be tweaking it any further. Still, I wonder how much I'm going to pay to have this thing cleaned up and powder coated.

 

[rickc]

If you are going to powder coat, you will have to pull the whole thing apart anyhow so this gives you better accessibility for painting options.

I was quoted around $100 to powder coat an aluminum light bar and I thought that doing it myself would be so much cheaper. After cleaning solution, ally primer and paint I spent close to $60 in materials but it took me several days to complete the job. I should have powder coated.

This said, there are lots of paint options out there with fantastic results. Tremclad is a good example; easy to use and some great finishes.

 

[rickc]

I forgot to mention that the powder coat quote included cleaning-up as required. My bar was new and raw ally but if yours is a bit beaten, they would sand-blast it first or burn the paint off by firing at a high temperature. Call around and get some quotes!

Post pics!

 

[Schattenjager]

Line X it!

I did it to my custom rack & fender flares and have never looked back. GREAT grip if you need to grab on to it - no matter if it is wet or snowy etc., stays nice and 'black' looking, no matter what is on the roads, & it wears like iron.