For u guys that have added rock sliders

[atbspinner]

My son got these for Christmas. They are not painted and will need to be welded on. What did you paint them with? Before or after you installed them? Thanks!

Here is the set he got:
Rock Slider Kit 58" | eBay

 

[Doc2012]

You can powder coat or paint.

Powder coat has it's advantages, as does paint.

However, I feel painting is better for a couple reasons.

1) Cheap

2) easy touch-up


You can paint with anything. Cheap Wally World paint, or more expensive automotive paint. Either way, they'll need to be touched up, especially if he takes it off road.

You're going to need too weld them on BEFORE you paint them. Then, get a few cans of brake cleaner, and spray them down and wipe them off. This will get all the grease and oil off them so the paint adheres better. Get some 80-120 grit sand paper, and rough them up a little bit. SELF ETCHING PRIMER is good stuff. Spray a couple coats of that on the sliders, then finish up with whatever paint you choose. A couple coats of clear, either matte, or gloss, will help them survive the weather, and help them hold up better to hil standing on them, ect.

Hope that helps.

 

[Stockwell45]

Painting them when they are already welded on is a pain in the ass. Just get painters tape, and tape around the mounts on the sliders where you intend to weld. Then paint the sliders, tear off the tape and you still have fresh clean metal to weld. Then touch up those areas with paint after you do the welding. I've done it both ways, and painting before welding is so much easier.

 

[white_n_slow]

duplicolor primer, rustoleum black rattle can. I painted them after welding them to the truck, but I did a pretty poor job of it (some of the angles are pretty tricky). Next time around, I will paint first and just touch up where needed to cover up the welding job.

 

[AZ_Trails]

I definitely recommend painting them before you weld them on. Mask off the mounting brackets, then rattle can prime and paint. After they're welded on, you can paint the mounting brackets that were previously masked. Easy peasy. Painting the mounting brackets was a pain enough for me...I wouldn't want to paint the whole slider after they're welded!

 

[IBallEngineer]

I know it's unpopular with many on this forum, but I prefer powder coat. The prevailing attitude here is that cheap is better, and sometimes I agree. But sometimes it is short sited.

First, powder isn't really that expensive. Here in Southern California I could have 2 rock sliders that size powder coated for $80, in matte or glossy black. Color would be more for sure.

Second, powder is WAY more durable than aerosol paint, no matter what brand you use. The powder on my front bumper is at least 10 yrs old, and it is showing it's age now, but no way you get that kind of durability from aerosol cans.

Of course you'd still have to grind the edges and touch up the welded area, but that part isn't seen or exposed to the elements quite as much.

Just my 2 cents.

:tea:

 

[Dirtyfingers]

I think it's time for me to do a full blown write up on this, seems like there's a bit of difference between the two options. I have sliders, I'm just waiting to put them on. I'll be sure to have plenty of details in this one.

 

[Dirtyfingers]

I know it's unpopular with many on this forum, but I prefer powder coat. The prevailing attitude here is that cheap is better, and sometimes I agree. But sometimes it is short sited.

First, powder isn't really that expensive. Here in Southern California I could have 2 rock sliders that size powder coated for $80, in matte or glossy black. Color would be more for sure.

Second, powder is WAY more durable than aerosol paint, no matter what brand you use. The powder on my front bumper is at least 10 yrs old, and it is showing it's age now, but no way you get that kind of durability from aerosol cans.

Of course you'd still have to grind the edges and touch up the welded area, but that part isn't seen or exposed to the elements quite as much.

Just my 2 cents.

:tea:

Could you powdercoat them after you install them?

 

[kball]

Could you powdercoat them after you install them?

No. Part of powdercoating is baking. They have to go into an oven.

And I just had sliders welded on and then painted them afterwards and wow, what a pain in the butt. Definitely paint them beforehand!

 

[Dirtyfingers]

No. Part of powdercoating is baking. They have to go into an oven.

And I just had sliders welded on and then painted them afterwards and wow, what a pain in the butt. Definitely paint them beforehand!

I knew that I was just testing you haha. Jeez I feel dumb now. I really knew that...

 

[Kurtis]

If he ISN'T going to wheel it, then have them powder coated. It will last a lot longer than paint.

If he IS going to wheel it and use the rock sliders then just use some random paint. Powder coating won't hold up any better than paint when you are using the rock sliders on rocks and would be a waste or money.

As far as painting on or off the truck.... Do what Stockwell45 said:

Painting them when they are already welded on is a pain in the ass. Just get painters tape, and tape around the mounts on the sliders where you intend to weld. Then paint the sliders, tear off the tape and you still have fresh clean metal to weld. Then touch up those areas with paint after you do the welding. I've done it both ways, and painting before welding is so much easier.

 

[snivilous]

Bed liner.

 

[Nunyabiz]

I painted mine with Rustoleum Professional High Porformance.
Only had one chip so far in 2 years.

3 cans of primer, 3 cans of black and a roll of good Grip Tape and you are good to go.
The grip tape is key, great traction plus wont ever chip where the tape is.
I have had 2 car doors slam it pretty hard and not even leave a mark.

 

[Stockwell45]

I painted mine with Rustoleum Professional High Porformance.
Only had one chip so far in 2 years.

3 cans of primer, 3 cans of black and a roll of good Grip Tape and you are good to go.
The grip tape is key, great traction plus wont ever chip where the tape is.
I have had 2 car doors slam it pretty hard and not even leave a mark.

That's an awesome idea, I may have to steal that. Rocks wouldn't hit up there to rip the tape off so it would be perfect.

 

[atbspinner]

Is the grip tape just around the welds? That looks great. And where do you get the tape?

 

[Nunyabiz]

Is the grip tape just around the welds? That looks great. And where do you get the tape?

You can get the tape darn near anywhere, I believe I got mine at Lowes Hardware but virtually any hardware store sells it and I would assume Amazon.com also.

Yes I cut the tape so that it just "misses" the welds, so its everywhere but the weld and it goes down at least 1/2 way around the tube, so the bottom is paint but the top and the side is grip tape. That way when some dinkus slams their car door into your slider it just hits the grip tape which is tough as nails and can take a pretty good beating.
Can see how the tape goes on this pic