Infectious Off-Road.com

How do you guys prepare bare metal on a new axle housing for paint? What do you use to clean the wax and oil off the metal? Do you sand it? Do you use self etching primer and what kind? I will probably just want to rattle can it. Or would you just have it powder coated? If so where would you take it and how much more would it cost?

This isn't for my jeep. One of the torsion axles on my boat trailer went out and UFP sent me two new axles but I need to paint them. I know a lot of you guys build you own bumpers and armor and probably have experience with this.

Thanks, Jeremy

POR 15 then some rattle can. No need to powdercoat.

I use brake cleaner and some soap and water. Sounds like yours if pretty clean, if it wasnt I would use a engine cleaner/degreaser and follow that up with brake cleaner, then soap and water.

Por15 is great stuff, but if you dont have any I wouldnt worry about it. Should have no rust on it anyways. Just spray whatever color you want on it.

[quote="Frylock"]

Por15 is great stuff, but if you dont have any I wouldnt worry about it. Should have no rust on it anyways. Just spray whatever color you want on it.[/quote]
P=Paint
O=Over
R=Rust

if you have no rust, throw a nice coat of primer on it, then rattle can your favorite color, keep exrta on hand for touch ups later


TheBigDogg

I think I'd clean all of the grease off with a paint brush and some paint thinner or acetone in a dish pan since it's probably got that protective film oil on it. Just make sure you get all of the oil off of it somehow before you start painting, or you'll have all sorts of fun with fish eye and pealing paint.

Paint with a heavy enamel bare just cleany packing coating or grease off first

If doing the whole axle. I sand, clean with mineral spirits, let dry, primer, then rattle can black.

For touch-ups after wheeling; I just wash with the left over soap and water after washing the jeep, let dry, then rattle can. I normally scratch the same spots over and over, this is why powdercoating things like axles and sliders is a waste of money. I buy my spray paint by the case so that I am using the same lot # and the paint always matches.

Oh, you clean before painting on a Jeep?



I use brake cleaner because it's fast and easy. Have no idea if it's best. Doesn't work so good on scratches because it will mess up the existing paint, but on bare metal it's good.

Thanks for all the ideas. I'm probably going to go with an etch primer and acrylic enamel paint.

Thanks for the all ideas you given, I would go with one of your advice which i usually think that's better for me.