bare metal sliders, how to paint them?

I just ordered a pair from Brandon over at avidoffroad.com. I know they come in bare metal and I was wondering how do I go by painting these? This will be the first time painting something like this and I have no clue where to begin. What are the steps to during a project like this?

Also is it possible to paint them a chrome color or would another process to doing this be better?

 

No Chrome!!!! If you want them plated, take them to a shop that'll do that. I did mine by first wiping them down with some nie sandpaper to get and rust or slag off, then wiped denatured alcohohol to clean them. 2 coats of automotive primer and 3 coats of textured black. let each coat dry fully before spraying again. Hope it helps.

 

sand them down so you rough them up a little bit.. .Paint will adhere better to a scuffed up surface.. throw a few coats of primer and let dry and then go nuts with a rattle can..

 

You could always coat them with Herculiner ... the stuff you buy at walmart.
Easy to touch-up if you scrape it off on the rocks.

 

Just to add: Be sure to scuff up your primer before you apply your paint, or whatever final coating you decide to use. Otherwise, your paint adhesion will be compromised, and in a high-use area like sliders, the paint will begin peeling prematurely.

Red 3M scotch-brite pads are ideal for scuffing. Perfect choice if you go for herculiner. If you're rattle-can spraying it, stick to a gray pad, as it's not as coarse as red, and will not show the sand scratches a red pad will leave behind.

 

Thanks for the tips guys. By the way, which type of sand paper should I use i.e. grit.

kinetik873 you said no to the chrome, how come and sorry for being ignorant but what is plated?

I also wasn't aware that I should sand the primer before painting?

As far as paint goes whats the best kind? Dadic 78 mentioned herculiner; which considering the location seems like a smart move, but is using a rattle-can a good choice also? I would like to go for a silver/chrome look since my Tacoma is white or would black be a better color, ummm...

Sorry for all the questions guys, I'm such a n00b

 

To prep the steel for primer, use 320 or 400 grit paper. Once it's all primed up the paper you need will depend on your final paint application. Rattle-can won't hide much in terms of sand scratches, so you'll want to sand your primer with 600 grit. If you're going with herculiner, or a similar product, where it's very textured, and you're not worried about sand scratches, you can just use a red 3M pad as I mentioned earlier, or even use your 400 grit again to prep the surface.

NP on all the questions man, ask away, that's what this site is for. We were all noobs once.

 

I would say have them powder coated if you do not plan on using them them offroad, it is much more durable but if you scratch them touching them up will be difficult

 

Self Etching primer might be ideal, since it is bare metal.

 

I keep reading that it's more difficult to touch up sliders if they've been powder coated. Why is that?

 

Because if they are welded on you are unable to bring them back to the powder coater and it is generally pretty hard to match the powder coat appearance with spray paint