Raw metal bumper coating advice

Hey all! Gonna start welding up my new bumper soon, and wanted some feedback on painting it because googling it is a rabbit hole.

For prep I'm wiping everything down with acetone, wire wheeling everything, welding it up, wiping down again after its finished, grinding down the outside welds and wire wheeling the inside welds, then wiping down the entire finished bumper with acetone.

If I go with paint, I'm thinking of using implement paint from TSC. From my research it's tough and doesn't chip easily and it would be easy to touch up, but have read that it fades over time, can probably be prevented with waxing or something

Line x type coating, havent really decided on a brand, or if roll on or spray on it better, I don't have access to my air compressor right now so it would be rattle can stuff. I've read this fades and peels easily if its chipped.

Powder coating, gonna get some quotes on this. If its cheap enough, maybe 150 I'm thinking of going this route, but not being able to touch it up kinda bothers me. So this is my last option.

Any thoughts on this? Kinda leaning towards the rattle can paint from TSC for ease of use, availability, and touch up. But wanted opinions on different products and methods.

 

I would powder coat if possible. I believe it would be most durable overtime.
As far as chipping; all coatings mentioned are prone from violent contact; road rash or hitting something.

 

Powder coat can be touched up. Never done it, but google says you can.

https://www.aluminumhandraildirect.com/touching-up-powder-coating/

 

I would have it professionally Line-X'ed in Premium. Powdercoat will fade over time, and paint wouldn't last most likely. One advantage to Line-X is that it will fill in any imperfections as well as sealing the bumper because the entire thing would be sprayed. I have my bumper Line-X'ed...see build thread.

 

Wow! I appreciate the quick replies everyone! I'll call some line x places and powder coat places today and get a quote. I'm in Houston right now so I'm sure there are plenty of options in the area to get the work done, just wanted to get some opinions on everything. If it's too much I may just go with rattle can paint from TSC and wax it every now and again to prevent fade. The bumper itself only ran 400, but after buying a new mig welder, 75/25 gas, etc, im in it about 1100 bucks, so trying to keep the cost as low as I can at this point.

 

I have a bumper I need to paint and I’m planning to do this:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/slider-coating-diy.55431/

 

In Louisana, it will probably be a waste of time and energy to do ANY prep, wipe down, wire wheeling, etc. until fabrication is complete. Wire wheeling before will just expose fresh steel for the rust to work on with a vengeance. Once finished with the welding and grinding, bead blast and immediate powder coat would be my choice.

 

Well I'm Houston right now using the gfs nice garage because I just have a gravel driveway at my house, wish I woulda brought my air compressor because I was gonna buy the cheap sandblaster from harbor freight but i didn't have enough room, so unfortunately I'll be stuck sanding and wire wheeling it as its my only option, and it looks tight in some places to sand down after the bumper is complete, which is why I was gonna do prep work beforehand. I plan on doing all of this in the course of a day so I wasn't to concerned with flash rust, but if I'm incorrect in thinking this way please feel free to let me know, you're an extremely knowledgeable person from reading your posts and I really enjoy the knowledge you share.

The instructions say 8 to 10 hours completion time, I figure it'll be closer to 10 with my mashed up finger, the plan is to prep it, weld it, and get a coat or two of primer on it on day one to prevent rust, and finish the coating the following day.

 

That looks really nice, ill reach out to him and see how it's holding up.

 

Got some quotes on powder coat and line x

Powder coat - 265

Line x premium - 350-400

I'll be painting these myself from the looks of it. If all else fails I can always re finish it at my house once I pick up a sandblaster.

 

I'm going through the same process right now, and have narrowed it down to powder coat or spray paint as well. I was looking forward to using Steel-It, but after asking, I was told that it doesn't hold up to wear that well. Here's the discussion: https://www.tundras.com/threads/custom-rear-bumper.77683/

I've used the Rustoleum bedliner on a previous Jeep bumper and it seemed to fade and get chalky in the sun pretty fast. Have you used the farm and implement paint in the past? I've never heard of it before, and I'm intrigued.

 

Houston is the same climate...or worse depending on where in Louisiana.

Those little portable sandblasters are a pain anyway...you blast three minutes and spend 10 minutes recovering the sand for the next "Go". A professional powercoater may do the prep for you, but it would likely cost you dearly. Powder coating is just a TOUGH finish...anyone that's tried to sand it off, gets discouraged pretty quickly. If the form of the fab material is amenable to power sanding, e.g. flat or round without a lot of ribs, etc., then DO buy a cheap RO hand sander to make it easier.

I'm so slow, I never figure on prepping anything large and painting it in the same day. I was blessed to be able to do my big painting in El Paso.

 

From what I've gathered on a Google search the implement paint is very tough, but can fade after awhile, I'm seriously considering it because I'm trying to keep the cost low right now. Id love to get the premium line x but its just too expensive

 

The cheapest quote I got on powder coating was 265. Too much for me right now, I mean, I can afford it, but I'm cheap lol and work isn't coming up till late January.

I usually work pretty quick and don't mind spending 12 to 14hrs a day on a project I really like. I gotta get the most out of my youth while I still have it and el paso huh? I worked there in January at the now Marathon refinery, I believe it was Western before Marathon bought it. I loved the food when I was there, hated the drive though, took me 15hrs to get there.

 

That portion of the refinery south of Trowbridge was a separate plant when I was there. I was Engineering Manager at El Paso Refining before it went bankrupt expanding capacity (NOT my fault ).

The two refineries (north and south of Trowbridge) were integrated after that, with the south plant being owned by bankers, and operated by Chevron. I believe Western bought the south (or both?) plants from the bankers and/or Chevron. Anyway, Western was still running it when I moved back east to hydrate. Marathon should finally provide some sense of permanence.

If you're a certified plant welder, you should be able to lay a fine bead on a bumper.

 

Thats some really interesting history! The crew i work with mainly works marathons, but I hit the occasional exxon or chevron as well, and no, I'm not a plant welder, although I did go to trade school for it 10 yrs ago. I'm good at it, but only like welding for myself. I only weld for money when times get tough, I was on my wrenches in the plants for years, then turned into the safety guy, alot easier on the body, and people actually like me because they worked side by side with me before, although they still give me shit for being the safety guy but I can still outwork alot of them and they know it unless it comes to making entry into a tower or drum, I've had enough of that and refuse to go inside now lol my tower rat days are over with

 

Have you looked into steel it?

 

I have observed over my life that Safety Guys universally catch **** across all industries, either commercial or government.

I've been in a tower, drum or two myself. Usually took my inspectors word for their observations. Even if you're not normally claustrophobic, you may find an icicle of fear inside yourself if you don't control it.

 

I have not, have you tried it or have any experience with it? I'm about to research it now

 

I never had a problem going in them, and its a great place to catch a nap if you're waiting on a broken crane to get fixed, I fell asleep hard one day while I was under fresh air while my buddy was arc gouging, but somehow have trouble sleeping in my bed. It's kinda strange.

 

Not personally but I was in the same boat as you a while back, got the wife a c4 for her 4runner. This stuff is pretty tough, it’s what Baja racers use and it’s supposed to be one of toughest coatings available. Apparently you can weld right onto it. I used to help my dad at a powder coating shop so they actually did my bumper for free before I could try this. But I was definitely intrigued

 

Oh, hell no, there ain't no way I could sleep in one. My mind would get to thinking that, statistically speaking, out of all the plant turnarounds ever done, at least once, one individual in at least one instance, has been forgotten and closed up in a pressure vessel. Of course, there are lock-out, tag-out procedures to prevent that happening, but reasoning with fear is extremely hard. You really think about the safety guy then, and if he's is doing his job.

 

Well the hole watch signs you in and out of the vessel, so you're covered there, probably the only person that could get locked in is the QC guy, and no one likes him either hes the last one to enter the vessel before its closed.

 

It looks good but it's pretty pricey as well, not sure that's in my budget right now

 

Just called a couple more line x places, cheapest quote I got for premium was 275 pre tax. I think that's a really good deal and I'm probably gonna go with that. It's more than I wanna spend, but still very reasonable and I think it will hold up well, and its just 10 bucks more than powder coating. Still need to call a few more powder coating places first

 

It's coming together nicely! Hardest part is over with, gotta pull it off and weld it up now

 

I'd like to thank you for this post, it helped me seal the deal for the premium line x. Dropped the bumper off today. There were a few imperfections when I finished that powder coat or paint just couldn't cover up. Itll be ready Monday or Tuesday. They had a sharp looking f250 out front that have the bottom edge coated, plus the plastic grill up front. Might get my grill done too if its a reasonable price. I didn't know you could line x plastic

 

You can line-x anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfd7_p4SVBU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuzMkcBZrII

 

Thank you everyone for the great advice and suggestions. Went with line x premium, total after tax was 295. It looks great and seems to be really tough.