Repainting Sliders with surface rust, how to?

Okay guys, it's time for another one of my patented stupid questions

My rock sliders have gotten scratched up over the past year and have developed some surface rust. Pics below

I've got a few questions:
1. What is the best way to clean up the surface rust? (what grit sandpaper do you recommend?)
2. Should I use any type of compound to clean the rust?
3. Should I reapply primer before I spray them?
4. Do you think I can get away with taping a drop cloth onto the truck or think it would be less trouble to just remove the sliders for a job like this.

Thank you!


(I know the answers might seem obvious but I am new to maintaining steel...mostly worked on boats my whole life until 2 years ago.)

 

I just slide some paper grocery bags between the sliders and body of the truck to protect it from overspray, then go to town with a rattle can of black paint.

 

I just used a big piece of cardboard wedged between the cab and the sliders whenever I retouch mine. I forgot what sandpaper, not too rough, just to get any small rust bumps off. I did intially use POR15, which seemed to help with rock chips, but definitely not against the trees or actual rocks.

 

Sand blast, clean, primer, paint a few coats or use bed / raptor liner?

 

I stick some cardboard between the slider and the body of the truck to prevent over-spray. Hit it with a wire brush to remove any loose stuff. And then spray on some rust oleum rust reformer paint.

I also crawl around under the truck and clean/spray any rusty spots on the frame or suspension.

All this stuff is going to continue to be scratched and blasted with dirt so it doesn't need to look pretty. Just protected to keep rust from spreading.

 

Bolt on? Best way is to have them fully stripped (acid dipped) then zinc coated, then top coated with whatever you got.

 

That's a good point but I meant DIY, that sounds pricey

 

This will be my process when necessary. Even powdercoating doesn't hold up to the abuse.

 

As far as stripping, wire wheel on an angle grinder works well to clean them up. Whatever you can't get, there's rust converting primer, then just your paint of choice on top of that. That's if you wanna do it correctly.

Me, I just clean the dirt off of them and spray paint over everything.

 

I'm an average Joe but I would remove them, hit them with some fine grit sandpaper, wipe them down with a damp towel and brush on some Rustoleum bed liner. It looks like this when applied.

 

Think about how often you're gonna do this. As someone above said, pick up a few rattle cans of flat black paint. Use newspaper or grocery bags to mask the side of the truck above the slider. Perhaps periodically take then off and do a more thorough prep before top coating.

 

This.

Every couple of years I might hit then with a wire wheel, but usually about once a year I clean the truck and spray some Rustoleum. No real reason to go crazy and zinc coat etc.

 

Thanks everyone, im going to pick up sand paper, wire brushes, and some rustoleom converting primer before i repaint the sliders

 

What’s the best way to do this?

I’ve tried the above methods and they don’t really work.
Have actually removed more material stabbing at the chips with a pocket screwdriver to knock the flakes off, but at this rate it’s gonna take 10 years

 

Clean slider with mild detergent, wire brush, use a good brand of spray paint for metal.

 

I would drill a hole on each side, and spray the inside full with fluid film, and then tack weld it shut and repaint

 

If you are going to do it with the sliders on the vehicle get some auto masking paper to prevent overspray. It’s cheap and you can get it in different sizes. 18 inch, 24 inch etc.

 

not sure if this is in reference to my post but as I said, tried that, does not work
a big thick chip doesn't come off with brush or detergent
I've used small wire brush (steel) and the big kind they use at tire shops.

Paint I'm probably gonna use a POR-15 kit since that's what I have nearby. If not I'd probably try Eastwood brush on.
It's really just the prep that's being a pain.

I think a needle scaler would work great. Maybe some attachment on a grinder.
But due to the 20deg angle, they won't fit unless taking off the sliders. Which is a pain.
Who knows maybe I'll do that.
That would also allow brush on acid rust remover then rinse off. Just a lot bigger of a project at that point than doing it on the truck.

It's a double edged sword. The fact that RCI looks the best and strongest (or up there) due to the larger amount of mounting points compared to other brands, and additional reinforcement
mean they're much more work to take on and off

honestly probably just gonna try spending an hour or two poking the flakes off with a screwdriver as a Step 1 see what happens and go from there

POR15 kit on Amazon is something like $20 so that was the rationale behind it; versus quote I got on strip (blast) and re powder coat for $400...
which, in this case, didn't last long to begin with and turned into flakes that can't really be touched up

the POR-15 kit came with foam brushes and is in a can
got it because I hate overspray
so should be fine. Good to know learning something new. Might mask it anyway like you said just to be safe.

Honestly I'm hoping the tubes are fine; it seems to be just surface rust mostly on the fill plates that are welded what looks like on top of the tube.
Enough to flake, but not deep to the point of holes; not seeing any
If I get a welder, or find a guy, that may be a smart idea for maintenance though

I've got a fluid film kit. Need to do my frame. Haven't tried the tube spray thingy. Hopefully it actually sprays good/360 in the frame and works vs just gimmick with wild claims

 

mine look like every 2 yrs. i just clean them alittle , and brush on rustoleum, put it on heavy, good for 2 more yrs

 

If I had thought of it before I put mine on, I'd have ordered mine raw from Westcott Designs and then taken them to get rino lined completely.

Rino lining will definitely hold up better than powdercoating or spray paint.