Sliders: Paint or powdercoat?

I found a set of used sliders on Craigslist and picked them up last night. They are in great shape except for a few scratches and surface rust. I'd like to clean them up before I install and wanted some opinions/ideas about which way to go. I could tackle the rust with a wire brush and sandpaper with a medium amount of effort. Has anyone used some kind of over the counter spray that would cover bare metal and old powder coat?

Or should I just make the investment in new powder coating?

 

100% paint. touch up is easy.

 

If you wont use them as intended go powdercoat.
If they will get friendly with rocks then paint them

 

I second the paint notion. Powdercoat is durable but still comes off when the sliders are used.

 

Okay that was easy, it looks like we're painting. Any suggestions on what kind to use, spray bedliner maybe?

 

I also vote for paint. Though you could also use a spray on bed liner.

Make sure you clean up the rust first. Then before you paint make sure you prime. Paint on its own will not protect the metal in the same way, not to mention a good primer will allow for a much stronger bond.

If you managed to get all the rust off, a primer such as this will work well and is super cheap: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ol...ray-Automotive-Primer-Spray-2081830/100169179

 

www.monstaliner.com

Small can and a small roller.

Use their rust encapsulator and make life easy

 

Rustoleum self etching primer and bed liner is what I use. Easy to touch up.

 

Rattle can and touch up as needed after wheeling.

 

I use any paint with a rust inhibitor, the thicker the coat, there better IMO

 

Good suggestions. I think I'll try this (tell me if I'm missing anything)

1. Wire brush and sand off all rust
2. Scotch pad old powder coat
3. Spray primer over bare metal & old powder coat
4. Spray or roll on bedliner TBD
5. Shotgun a beer

 

I second the rattle can approach. It's an easy touch up if you want to re-coat.

Make sure to:

Clean with mineral spirits, use something abrasive to 'scuff' the metal, clean, dry, primer and then paint. The hard part is waiting 2 days for the paint to cure before you mount the sliders.

 

Only thing I would add is to make sure you clean the surface after you finish sanding. You don't want any debris stuck under your primer.

Also as others have mentioned a rattle is a great option, if only for the ease of touchups.

 

Rustoleum self etching primer

This if you want the bedliner route, this stuff is amazing and applies with a roller with the finish of a spray gun.

 

Good call-out. I think they have tack rags for automotive paint prep @ Autozone

 

Does that stuff have a high gloss finish or is it more of a satin?

 

Satin, dod my trailer in it and its held up great . Not the best pic I have but you get the idea looking at the top rail

 

Great, that's what I was looking for.

 

you could use rattle can bed liner unless you want to have them professionally done with Line-X or Rhino Liner. Any of these gives you a slip resistant finish as well.

 

This is the route I took and it's held up great over the years. I used the Rustoleum bed liner too.