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I have a sand rail frame that is bare metal. I need to paint it. Can I get away with one kind of primer and some single stage paint? I would like a nice durable finish but it does not have to be show quality. Any suggestions on what kind of primer or paint to use? How much primer and paint will I need? How many coats of each? Thanks!

I've tried just about every type of direct to metal finishing out there..

Overall.. I'm a huge fan of Zero Rust (www.ZeroRust.com).. it's about $50 per gallon.. dries slow.. can be thinned with just about solvent.. looks like powder coating when done.. and comes in colors.

3 coats... there's a balance between protection and chipping.

chad, are there any Attwoods stores in okc? they sell a line called
Van Sickle implement paint that works good but comes in basic colors like john derre green, catepillar yellow and International red, etc. some nice whites and a few others also but no purples. the primers are really good too. i'd say a quart or two of primer and a quart or two of top coat.


our local uh-o'reillys is the dupont retailer here, you could always ask the 18 year old kid behind the counter for some advice...

Is van sickle a direct to metal barrier type material?

chadrat, you can try a metal etching primer such as DuPont variprime. This etches the metal (bites in), will prevent rust, and give you a solid platform to start with. I would recommend a urethane primer sealer over the variprime but some will paint over the variprime without problems. Other manufacturers have similar product lines.

MNAirHead wrote:Is van sickle a direct to metal barrier type material?

uhhh, i think so. i've always used their primer product before topcoating with their paint. the inside of my baja is done with the van sickle paint along with my flat bed trailer.....

ebay has a etching primer, no one sells van sickle by me. do you think this is simular. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-Gallon ... 0179399171

Does primer go bad with a shelf life? Most chemicals have a 1 year use window.

what kind of primer? I haven't heard of it "going bad" but it will seperate in the can, and needs to be shaken thorougly to remix all of the fillers and binders. This also depend on the type of primer.

I've got multiple primers..

being in the chemical industry I'm brainwashed to not trust effectiveness after 12 months on the shelf.

T.