Spray Painting rails?

[06 RMK 900]

So I seen somewhere else that someone spray painted their rails. My question is do you think it's going to last?

My thoughts would be to sand the rails to make them a little "rough", put some primer on it the color and then a clear coat. Do you think this would last? I really want to change the color on mine but don't have the funds to powdercoat them. I have access to an outomotive paint booth so I would do it with air actually not the cans.

 

[bushy]

Use an aluminum etching primer first. Widely available. I hear the heat from pow coating is enough to take the temper out of aluminum and i have the powder coated bent rails to back it up.

Really woodzy? this post was that offensive to you? right back at ya

 

[HDEMWET]

zinc chromate primer, the only thing that will bond paint to aluminum. i did my old snopro suspension years ago and it held up fine, just remember to put washers behind all your bolts so they don't mar the paint as you're tightening them down. clear coat is a good protector as well, got a few seasons before it looked worn out.

 

[Mafesto]

Use an aluminum etching primer first. Widely available. I hear the heat from pow coating is enough to take the temper out of aluminum and i have the powder coated bent rails to back it up.

not

We're talking well under 500 degrees

 

[bushy]

not

We're talking well under 500 degrees

What do you know?

Was a discussion on here about it and there is quite a bit of precedent to back it up.


http://www.pfonline.com/articles/powder-coating-aluminum-alloy

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=151053

http://www.finishing.com/350/24.shtml

 

[ACMtnCat]

What do you know?

Was a discussion on here about it and there is quite a bit of precedent to back it up.


http://www.pfonline.com/articles/powder-coating-aluminum-alloy

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=151053

http://www.finishing.com/350/24.shtml

Crap! Every single part on my sled is powdercoated!

Bushy, thousands of people powdercoat rails without issues. Unless the guy doing the baking is a retard, it'll be fine!

 

[Mafesto]

What do you know?

I know that my post was correct.


BTW.....sorry if actual facts didn't back up your thesis

All that said, anodizing would be my 1st choice.

 

[mountainhorse]

Strip them down... do a good wash on the rails with a degreaser.. wipe them down with acetone.... use a good self etching primer or a Zinc-Chromate primer intended for aluminum outboard engines.

If you are going with black... use POR-15 black paint... since the rails dont see UV (sun) too much.. you dont have to worry about loss of gloss (I know this from personal experience). This stuff is as tough as 95% of the powder coat out there.

If you want to go with color... there really are not any "rattle" can solutions that will be durable for you needs and the professsional products will be more costly than the pow coat.

There ARE many powdercoated rails out there... many with no problems...BUT... and this is a BIG "but".... At 400 degrees though for bake cycles as short as 30min... the strength of the rails can be compromised... a process called "over aging" ... the 7129 aloy that the rails are made of can be affected...this has been confirmed with Ice Age mfg that makes thousands upon thousands of rails a year... as well as other sources.

IMO... if you get your rails powder coated... use a place that has tight quality control, a good oven and can use low temp powders that do not require a long bake cycle.

 

[bushy]

I already have a set of bent powder coated rails, so I'm painting the next set.

I'll primer etch the ice age rails I have on order, then spray em with PPG hardner activated acrylic enamel or urethane. I don't recommend this route unless you have a positive air pressure mask or you could end up brain dead before your time...

Oh yeah, GO Vikes!

 

[Mafesto]

Oh yeah, GO Vikes!

Looking good after 2 quarters!

 

[bushy]

Quit watching now. lol Lots of heartbreak for a Viking fan!

 

[Mafesto]

No shat!

 

[bushy]

Crap! Every single part on my sled is powdercoated!

Bushy, thousands of people powdercoat rails without issues. Unless the guy doing the baking is a retard, it'll be fine!

Quite likely just those swiss cheesed 09 rails, but....

 

[ACMtnCat]

Quite likely just those swiss cheesed 09 rails, but....

Yeah, maybe? I was just riding along and hear a noise so I look down and find this! May have been cuz the were powder coated.?

 

[Mafesto]

That doesn't look very good!

 

[Killa900_1m]

here is my spray job ..... held up good

 

[06 RMK 900]

here is my spray job ..... held up good

What was the steps you took an what kind of paint?

 

[Killa900_1m]

degreassed, scuffed with scotch bright pad, washed down with warter, painted next day 2 coats i think 3 maybe very light coats, 2 coats clear

 

[06 RMK 900]

I think i'm going to give this a try. Going to clean them, scotch bright, wash, etch primer, paint and then clear coat. I don't get to many miles on a year so it should last me a few years.

If I feel like sanding down my a arms I might give that a try as well. Right now I have one gray and one black lower A-Arm.

 

[06 RMK 900]

If you are going with black... use POR-15 black paint... since the rails dont see UV (sun) too much.. you dont have to worry about loss of gloss (I know this from personal experience). This stuff is as tough as 95% of the powder coat out there.

If it wasn't for wanting to go red I would use this and not think twice. I have used this on the frame of my truck i'm restoring. This stuff is amazing for things like that!