How did you paint your armor? (Picture Thread) Powder-Coat / Rattle Can / Bed-Liner

Hi all,

I have been looking around and could not find a broader thread that discussed this.

How did everyone paint their bumpers/armor?

Currently, I have a powder-coated (aluminum) front bumper and rattle canned skids/sliders. They are holding up better than expected (3 years now), but I do see some bubbles forming in various spots in both the powder-coat and spray paint.

Now, I have a HC rear (4xinnovations) I'm looking to paint. I am leaning towards bedliner as I do not have mudflaps... but, anyone powder-coat their HC with good results?


(soon )



As always, pictures are appreciated.

 

Powder coat here.

 

I just did my high clearance rear with the rustoleum bedliner 2 part kit. roll on, holding up well.

 

Powder coat rear HC (waste of money because didn't get the right job, wasn't sand blasted or prepped. Showing minor chipping flaking)
Rattle canned front which was cheap but I'm running aluminum there and rust or corrosion is limited so felt it was a no brainer. Powder coated sliders best idea to start for the price from relentless fab

 

Always and forever https://www.kbs-coatings.com/

 

I rhino lined mine but that's cause I work there and got it done cheap

 

Rustoleum truck bed liner in rattle cans. This way after a weekend of bumping into shit, I can touch up without having to remove anything, and it matches the untouched up areas.

 

I'm thinking this exact method. Should look good:

 

Interesting... I keep thinking Line-x for sliders and skids, but rattle cans would be better?

 

I powder coated my bumpers, but rattle canned my sliders/skids (minus the rear diff skid that came with PC). That way I can just get a wire brush and touch up the skids/sliders that I use. Unless you are bumping into stuff, I would just PC the bumpers.

Also, be careful with the prep work with spray on bed liner. If not prepped right, Ive seen it just chip off.

 

@Crom just went through this and ended up PC.

 

I went powdercoat from Relentless on my front and rear bumpers. Really good quality.


For my sliders, I had relentless linex them so they would be grippy as steps for my GF/Dogs. However, I regret linex because once it is messed up, there is no easy fix. Especially when they are welded on.



I have an aluminum IFS skid that I just rattle canned. Figure it will need to be touched up every now and again.

 

Absolutely wrong. Once powder coat is broken there's no "repair." Rattle can bed liner is probably a best bet. WIsh I'd used it on all my armor to date. Keep meaning to park the truck (will in the coming heat) and paint it all right.

 

Why? you can rattle can it after it gets all Effed up. Plus who knows when he will actually wheel or how much.. you can strip your sliders just driving down the street if rattle canned by kicking up salt around here in the winter. Not saying bed liner is or is not the best or worst etc. I can say this. Painting bumpers or armor with any sort of quality takes a ton of time by yourself. So if you have the time, arena, weather etc. Yea do it yourself but be prepared to take your sweet ass time to get it right. I have personally gotten everything from powder coated bumpers to sliders plus rattled canned the new front bumper (saved a ton of money....sort of). If its done right be a reputable shop front bumper should be powder coated. Everything else can be rattle canned

 

I'd say either way is fine. Most critical is metal prep. Dewax and acetone or sandblast.

My sliders are rattle can, they get it once a year, for 7 years running, lol that's like 16 coats of paint. Haha

Not true at all.

To touch up the PC, sand it some, degrease then mask off and spray.

I paid $290 for sandblasting and PC for rear bumper and swing gate. Did a major off road trip, no mudflaps and I was spray painting a few days later, enamel spray paint. No drama. Didn't even sand it, just wiped with acetone. Multiple thin layers are better than fewer heavy. Works.

 

Anyone else use this? I'm debating the same thing. Don't want to spend the extra money on pc just for it to scratch off on the first rock, stump, fence post or whatever else I may come across in a field. I'm a huge fan of rustolium enamel. Thinking that may be the way to go.

 

That bumper looks so sick.