Best paint for bumpers/sliders etc.?

[musicmaan]

Hi all, I have to paint my sliders, and soon to be bumpers for my Tacoma. I'm looking for recommendations on the best paint to use for such applications?

Thank you,

MM

[4x4x4doors]

An oil based enamel. Flat or semi-gloss. Easy to touch up. I use Rustoleum in the quart can.

[RoosterBooster]

on my (dirt cheap) backcountry adventure rig (that i also abuse as a box scraper tractor and snowplow ) i used rattle can bed liner (lowes/depot?) for the fenders/ rocker and bumpers:



cheap, but nice textured surface that hides imperfections and is very easy to touch up

[GregB_00XJ]

Take a look at Magnet Paints.

http://www.magnetpaints.com/

Their monsta liner is apparently one of if not the best out there, and the Chassis Saver is used by pro's and DIY all over. A lot of people I chat with are using the Chassis Saver on bumpers, sliders, basically everything. One guy is painting his whole Cherokee with gloss black!

Superb customer service too.

[transientmechanic]

Whatever you get make sure it is UV stabilized or it will fade. Regular Rustoleum is not UV stable. A lot of chassis paint is not either because (most) chassis are not in direct sunlight.

I use Krylon indoor/outdoor. Its cheap (under $4 a can) and durable enough. Whatever you do, its going to get scratched. might as well make it the easiest thing to touch up.

[RoosterBooster]

IMHO if you dont mind to spend a little more $$ you get the nicest result and best endurance if you have everything sandblasted/Powdercoated.
pick a standard color and buy matching rattle can paint for touchup.
i used to build desert/dune truggys... thats what we did on them.

sand/gravel mixed with high hp removes any regular paint in a heartbeat


powdercoating is the only thing that resisted the abrasion & abuse of the desert (at least for a couple trips )

[ltngaines]

Benjamin Moore IronClad Alkid Low or Hi gloss Metal&wood Enamel. Hands down the best off the shelf paint for what you need. I have proof.

[transientmechanic]

With all the different opinions out there on paint, there are two things that are more important than any paint: surface prep and application technique. Sand, clean with solvent, prime, apply. If you're using an unfamiliar paint or painting an unfamiliar surface, test it out on some scrap. This will make your end results ten times better. Using proper methods, you can make a $3.49 can of UV stable Krylon look much better and last far longer than many of these other paints.

That being said, with equal prep and technique the "better" paint will likely have somewhat better results. But the gap between them is narrowed or marginalized completely by somebody who knows what they are doing.

[hillbillyjake]

i kinda go the other way compared to everybody else. i figure bumpers and sliders are buillt to protect the truck so i assume that they are going to get beat on. i use the cheapest flat paint i can find. the only thing better than a $3 can a paint is a $2 can a paint.

[wjeeper]

With all the different opinions out there on paint, there are two things that are more important than any paint: surface prep and application technique

X eleven million billion!

Prep is the key. You can use the best paint in the world and it wont matter one bit if the prep work was no good.

Having said that I have had good luck with Rustoleum "professional" in rattle can and jar. Its a decent paint and seems to hold up to UV rays well.....cant vouch if its "formulated" for it or not, fading hasn't been a problem for me. Touch up is easy too, just rattle can over or use a small brush to cover the rock chips and it works for me.........cant really do that with powdercoat.