Planning on painting the metal strips that hold down the bed wood in my truck. Is powder coat any more durable than regular automotive paint and can you get it in a wide variety of colors like late model Ford colors?

Years ago - Imron used to be the hot, new thing - impervious to chipping etc. Would it be better for this application?

Thanks.

 

Powder coat depends entirely on the skill of the applicator. Properly done it will hold up much, much longer than paint. Improperly done it is no better than paint.

If you get quotes from a few places and one is about 50% higher than everyone else, that's probably the one to go with. There is a process that has to be done to the metal before it will accept the powder coat and the discount places keep their prices down by not doing it (wish I could remember what it's called but I can't right now). A year later it's peeling off.

Contact these guys and they will tell you what to ask about. He is one of the best in the business but is a few months from retiring.

Bosco Custom Powder Coating Inc

(406) 652-7147
6809 King Ave W Ste C
Billings, MT 59106

 

Thanks for the advice.

Anybody got any comments on Imron or whatever it is/was called?

 

I don't think you can get Imron anymore but you might consider epoxy paint as a do it yourself alternative .

 

RMF Dupont still sells emron. I can say that it is extremely durable as a chassis paint, In the early 80's I used it on my truck chassis, differentials and body. When I power washed the frame 3 years ago when preparing to rebuild the truck again I was amazed how well it held up very few chips and still had a good shine. This was used hard, played hard and worked hard for the following years untill 1999 the stored outside until 2010. The frame and drive train were sand blasted primed and shot with emron. Where it was used on the body with fillers and high build primers it chipped more easily. Where the body paint got scuffed on a tree stump, I tried to buff it out but even with heavy compound I could not touch it. The sun did fade the top of the cab and hood after sitting in storage for 10 years. (lighter color more metallic) Emron was fairly new and quite expensive back then, not sure how it is now.

 

I'm not a big fan of powder coat......or Imron either. Both kinda for the same reason.
Powdercoat....what you see is what you are stuck with. It will fade over time and can't be touched up or repaired.
Imron......Tough as nails, hard as h&ll. So hard you can't sandblast it off. Hard to do anything with if damaged. Wicked dangerous to spray.

I would suggest a good catalyzed urethane in the color of your choice over an epoxy primer.

 

I went down this same decision tree as well. I came to the conclusion that the cost of a
"good" powdercoat job was as, or more, expensive than buying new stainless steel strips.

 

Curious, are you ready for the road with your truck and any recent photos? The only experience I've had with powder coating was those tube steps on my pickup but they rotted from the inside out and blistered the powder coating. If your bed strips were coated both sides I think they would last fairly long but not sure on the fading.

 

Powder coat should be waxed like any other paint to protect it from the sun... As others have stated it starts with the prep... I've used powder coating a few time and love the product. Just remember to drill any hole, welding, & enlarge holes that are being used. you shouldn't do any of this stuff after it's been coated as you ruin the protection when you do these afterwards.



Imron paint is amazingly hard... I had a boss about 30 years ago paint his jeep with it... once again I remember prep is the key... I haven't heard much more about Imron in the past 30 years...