Paint/coating for a bare metal attachment?

Garrik · Dec 18, 2019

Did a quick search, didn't see anything.

I am looking for recommendations for a paint or coating product to use on a bare steel attachment that I have just finished welding up (log arch). The steel that I used is new - and I cleaned it well prior to assembly.

I would like a very high adhesion product that will provide excellent abrasion resistance and good to excellent UV protection in a fairly wet (30 inches of rain per year, but no snow) outdoor environment.

The local commercial team at Sherwin Williams has proposed an undercoat of a high adhesion epoxy topcoated with a high solids polyurethane. This sounds like a great approach to me, but their products only come in gallons - and I will end up with 3.25 gallons of product (both are two part materials) costing me a bit over $325. I need far less material than that - I probably have 50 square feet to paint.

In a perfect world, I would want to spend quite a bit less than that - but only if I can find a very high quality product that will really last in a very rough and abrasive environment (logging).

Any specific suggestions for paints or epoxy coatings that we are well suited to this kind of industrial use bare metal application?

Thanks!

orezok · Dec 18, 2019

I have used automotive undercoating on a number of implements. Not the most abrasion resistant, but is very weather resistant.

jayincmh · Dec 18, 2019

Use DTM paint. Direct To Metal.

I bought my last 10 gallons at Sherwin Williams to paint a shipping container I had purchased.

truckdiagnostics · Dec 18, 2019

Have it blasted and powder coated. If the material is prepped correctly it will IMO hold up better than paint. The price numbers for the paint cost might be able to get it done.

radios1 · Dec 18, 2019

truckdiagnostics said:
Have it blasted and powder coated. If the material is prepped correctly it will IMO hold up better than paint. The price numbers for the paint cost might be able to get it done.

+1 on that..

mike48130 · Dec 18, 2019

Blast it if you can, and I like to use the spray on bed liner. Obviously not as good as real bed liner, but has great adhesion, especially of blasted, and doesn't scratch off like paint. I use it all the time. It's a little more than paint, but I think it holds up better. Can get it at TSC, HF, and Menards. I think Menards is the cheapest.

Industrial Toys · Dec 18, 2019

I wouldn't give you two cents for powder coating.

I have painted a lot of equipment over the years. Never use primer. Waste of time and money. Usually tremclad or rust paint. Surface prep is everything. Friend makes thousands of farm gates and feeders a year. Never uses undercoating but a high quality industrial paint. I have found it somewhat better than the consumer offerings.

Now, if you are talking about anything that comes in contact with salt, all bets are off. Except one and that is that powder coat is the absolute worst!

WranglerX · Dec 18, 2019

Most metal surfaces for me are cleaned of all grease and oils and sticky stuff or flakey stuff and wiped down with scotch bright pad and petroleum spirits (paint thinner ) and wiped second time with clean rag wetted with P.S... And let throurly dry, does not take long in warm area....

Sprayed with a self etching primer (Rust-Oleum) and then color coat applied, again Rust-Oleum....

Dale

dlctcg · Dec 18, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
I wouldn't give you two cents for powder coating.

I have painted a lot of equipment over the years. Never use primer. Waste of time and money. Usually tremclad or rust paint. Surface prep is everything. Friend makes thousands of farm gates and feeders a year. Never uses undercoating but a high quality industrial paint. I have found it somewhat better than the consumer offerings.

Now, if you are talking about anything that comes in contact with salt, all bets are off. Except one and that is that powder coat is the absolute worst!

+ 1 on NOT Powder Coating an attachment.... Don't get me wrong powder coating has its place but IMHO on on equipment. Sooner or later you are going to chip it (or your not using it) & it is almost impossible to touch-up.... not touch-up sooner or later moisture will get under the rest of the powder coating & cause it to fail....

I haven't used it on a attachment yet but for the past few projects that see abuse I have been using SEM Rust Trap with good results so far (true verdict on in yet).... It is thin so multiple coats required but self levels well & bonds like crazy.... (I tried it based on a friend of mine that builds & modifies trailers, they use it). One of the advantages is it is designed to paint direct to rust or bare sanded steel (unlike a POR15 product) so future touch-up should be simple... just an option to look into...