Attention painting people: Painting ute side steps?

[ckai]

Wifey dear has a ute she wants to slightly butch up for her business. It's got aluminium side steps that were 'home-made'. Nicely done with the checker plate. Anyway, she had this idea of painting them black would would look bloody good. Talking to her old man and he said it would chip and shit and just polish them up. Yip that would look cool too - not like the black mind you.

I gave it a crack and it's a feckin' bitch on the checker plate using a stello. I still really like the black idea since she's getting black and chrome wheels.

The question: Should we even consider painting them or is it going to look shit after a short amount of time? If I had the coin I would annodize the suckers. But we're on a VERY tight budget. I was thinking of grabbing a can of etch primer and doing it all ourselves. Could even use the old mans cheap spray gun and compressor if it would give a better result.

What's people's opinion that are in the know?

[huff3r]

POR-15 won't chip. Google it, and be amazed. No need for spray-gun either, but the paint isn't the cheapest.

[fridayflash]

POR-15 won't chip. Google it, and be amazed. No need for spray-gun either, but the paint isn't the cheapest.

your right por-15 is tough as, id trya strong etch primer (wattyl indusrtial etch) and wattly kill rust epoxy enamel in black. but ive gotta say i dont know how durable the etch will be on alloy

[F5 Dave]

If you can find a powder coater that will do a cashy. . .

[ckai]

POR-15 won't chip. Google it, and be amazed. No need for spray-gun either, but the paint isn't the cheapest.

Cheers. It looks pretty decent and the local mitre 10 apparently stocks it so I'll have a look on the price.

your right por-15 is tough as, id trya strong etch primer (wattyl indusrtial etch) and wattly kill rust epoxy enamel in black. but ive gotta say i dont know how durable the etch will be on alloy

The industrial etch and epoxy enamel is what I was thinking at the start as well.

If you can find a powder coater that will do a cashy. . .

I was thinking pc as another alternative but thought it may be a couple hundy. It would be plenty tough enough. I should see if there's someone in town and get an idea on price.

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[hayd3n]

powder coating is cheep , cost me $30 to get my valve cover sand blasted, and $20 to get it coated