Question on Painting Steel Bumper

Going to be painting my bare steel bumper soon. I plan to use VHT RollBar and Chasis paint, satin finish. It claims it is a one step ester epoxy which doesn't require a primer.

My question is should I use a primer still, and if so what type of primer. My go to would be self etching rustoleum but this is a different type of paint than the epoxy I'll be using.

I tested on the under sides of my skid and love the finished look so far. I just want the job to last. Going with rattle can paint so it's easy to touch up.

 

I used the same paint with primer and it worked well but it did fade over time and ended up repainting with rustoleum later. I did not paint it with a clear coat at the end so I'm sure that would have made a difference.

 

I would use a etcher primer. 1 or 2 coats. Then the paint you want. I did all my skids and sliders.

 

You might consider a bedliner product.

One that is very durable and has a smoother finish than any with the rubber chip stuff is www.monstaliner.com

Look around at their gallery. You might like it.

 

If you off road AND like to keep it looking decent, go with something that you can touch up 1/2 way easy....

 

Be sure to prep the metal as well. A good wipe down with acetone, scuffing with steel wool and another wipe with acetone goes a long way helping the paint stick well. I did my bumper and sliders with a coat of self etching primer, a coat of black rustoleum and a couple coats of black rustoleum bedliner. It's held up well and is super easy to touch up when needed, a few light sprays of bedliner over any scuffs and it blends right back in.

 

I used dish soap and pressure washer, scuffed, and then wiped with acetone.

Contacted VHT and they said don't use any primer. It's been painted. Gonna wait 7 days for cure and then use 400grit and paint one more coat with a little more finesse.

Thanks folks!