Prepping bare metal

[Cottontail]

I just got a set of rock rails delivered bare metal.

How do I clean them before paint? I am thinking wiping them down with a rubbing alchohol or something?

Should I go ahead and use, after that, a self etching primer? I am reading on the internet that half the people that bother to post (not on , just in general) think that is very important and the other half think it is a waste of time.

Then, I guess I'll just paint them with a Krylon or Rustoleum rattle can...


Any thoughts or suggestions before I start this prep and paint?

Thanks!

 

[4.3LXJ]

Steel has a light oil put on it at the mill to help keep it from rusting. If you rub it with your finger it will come off and appear black on your finger. You need to wipe it off with some solvent and do at least a reasonable job of getting it off before priming.

 

[xcm]

if it's on thick, wd-40 and scotch brite work wonders. if it's not that bad, save a step and go straight for alcohol and scotch brite. if you use wd-40, you must remove ALL OF IT before paint, whipe it down with a paper towel and alcohol REALLY well.

advice: do it right, do it once. if you leave the protective oil finish, OR wd-40, you'll end up with the same result, rusting thru the paint, and chipping paint. spray paint is pretty much spray paint, prep is 400% more important than choice in primer.

 

[MT Mike]

A complete wash down with water and Dawn dish detergent, followed by a good wipe down with Xylene (be sure to use the Xylene in an extremely well ventilated area) has always worked well for me. Thorough prep is the key to a long lasting paint job.

 

[kastein]

I'm usually a fan of hitting everything with a good shot of brakleen before sticking anything to it. I swear that stuff will take slime off politicians.

Clean the packing oil and any loose mill scale off and then prep as the side of the can says to and it should work great.

 

[dave92cherokee]

when I got my AJ's super rails a few years back I wiped them down completely with acetone, then went back with brake cleaner to get in the corners that were hard to reach. Put a couple coats of self etching primer on, couple coats of matte black, and on the top sides a couple coats of the cheapo spray bedliner for some grip. worked well and stayed on without any problems for years and touchup was a breeze

 

[Bronzewyrm]

red scotch bright and some simple miniral spirits will do it. wipe, etch prime, prime, sand 320/400, reclean with the spirits, shoot it.

he paint will stick forever if you follow the above. provided you understand it...

Bronze.