Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

Hello all,

I recently removed my running boards from my '51 to get them to a powder coating shop. They are a little surface rusty in spots, and on the underside is some undercoating that needs to come off. I was told that the more I did, particularly with the removal of the undercoating, the better the price would be, since they charge $125/hour. So I brought them home and began scraping off the undercoating and some amount of rust removal. However, I found some questionable spots on the passenger side board, it had an area with some denting (possibly a rock from underneath) and a corner where the roll lip had been turned out (in a spot that wouldn't be seen by the rear fender and on the underside). The paint itself has multiple layers, which has kept it mostly rust free, but on top these layers are flaking in spots. The truck was originally blue, and I can see blue paint, yellow overspray paint, and at least one coat (if not two or three) of black.

So now the big question: should I spend potentially $250-300 for them to sandblast these and powdercoat them, considering they're original and not perfect, or should I spend the larger amount of money online for new reproduction units? I've seen some prices at $450 and above. Perhaps someone that has purchased reproduction ones can reply here and tell me if they're happy with them. I want them to be good-looking and durable. Thanks.

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

first of all, I've never thought of powder coating running boards, and secondly, are they telling you to powder coat ONLY will cost the $300? What about the consideration that they may have to do some patching as well? if that's the case, what would the cost be to do it all?

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

The powder coating will include sandblasting, so less of that necessary means less cost to me. They will not be doing any patching. I can live with it as is, it doesn't need to be perfect, but there is just a few rough/dented spots, no rust through or any serious rust issues. However I do wonder about the surface prep, if they just sandblast it and powdercoat then any areas that had surface rust might not be very smooth. Thus, I'm looking for thoughts here.

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

I believe they make a filler for powder coating, like bondo is for body work. I can't see anyone charging more than $50 to $75 to blast them if you take them in. I would take them to a sand blasting place and say here's 50 bucks if you can take 10 minutes and blast them or maybe 20. A case of cold beer might work as well. I would go to an industrial blasting place where they can lay them on the floor and boom done.

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

Only my experience, around here, powder coat guys do cleaning/blasting (for a price) and then powder coating. They don't do any repairs. I have not heard of a filler for metal that will be powder coated, as the metal has to be metallic for the powder to be attracted to it.

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

having had powder coat done in the past I don't think the 300 is to far off the mark..but theres no need for you to do any rust/paint/undercoat removal...the sandblaster will make quick work of that...
my rbs were trashed ,so I bought a repop set for my truck...they are very heavily constructed..as good a oem was...im happy
I also have not heard of pc filler

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

I used new running boards since mine were severely pitted and had some large cracks. They seem to be good quality.

One thing to think about is thee new running boards have a coating that will need to be stripped also if you plan to powder coat.

Here are a couple ideas:
1: Clean up your original running boards and just Raptor line them.

2: If you get new running boards paint them instead of powder coating. Paint seems to be easier to touch up than powder coating.

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

Why not use pickup bedliner on them? Extremely durable and covers well. Plus you can do it at home with no special equipment.

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

I like J web did- Used raptor in white and then laid down the same colored matched body paint on top. The Raptor will hid imperfections to a certain extent. Also The raptor has excellent adhesion properties so standing on running boards chips etc the raptor holds up to wear and tear much better than just pain and primer. I did the interior sides of the bed the same way. I would just use a good undercoat on the bottom side.

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

No need to paint over bedliner...you can color match the liner

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

The powder coating won't hide any imperfections in the metal. You have to work it to the level that you want it to have before you have it powder coated.

Finish? Your call, Do you want smooth shiny running boards or can you deal with the pebbly finish that the bedliner would Pass muster.

I've always slicked mine off and painted them but sooner or later someone puts their shoe on them. About the only argument I ever had with my dad in my life was over his wanting to stand beside the truck with one foot propped up on the running board. No matter how many fits I threw he still did it next time.

Last time around when I was running in colored primer I just painted the boards black and touched them up once in a while. I redid the primer every year during the last week of July to be fresh for the Vintiques of Yakima Run. Quite often with a slightly different mix of primer as I just called my buddy at the parts house and asked him to mix some more purple primer.

Re: Running Boards - Powder Coat, or Replace?
 

My bed walls, fender bottoms and running boards are all Raptor coated. Works well and can be touched up with rustoleum paint. Thinking of having the additional power running boards and hanging brackets done in Raptor this next to match. May do it myself as i have a compressor.