Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Hi all,

Looking for recommendations for what is the best primer/paint from a spray can for painting frame/chassis components.

I plan on cleaning up some items by wiring wheeling and/or red scotch brite pads and clean with brake cleaner to degrease. I also have a few new parts that are just bare steel that need to be coated.

Not interested in powder coating due to cost and time.

Krylon ColorMaxx? or VHT Rollbar and Chassis Epoxy?

I've read a few build threads that said Krylon ColorMaxx was good, but then read a fairly recent post that the formula was changed and to avoid it.

Any feedback or input is appreciated.

Thanks!

-Dexter

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

ive had good luck with the higher quality krylon and rustoleum

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

If you are going to use a a spray can, metal prep the chassis after you wire wheel and degrees it. Your paint job will last a lot longer if you treat first

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Same here. Lupo is right, preparation is the key but that is the same for any surface coating.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Sem trim black

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Or worth satin trim black

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

I'd always use a 2k epoxy. Eastwood sells it in an can that you press a plunger on the bottom and mix it if you dont have a compressor to shoot it. One time use but my brother used it with good success.

Has anyone used the Steel It paint? I keep seeing it online but never see it in person.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

I have always had good results for YEARS on daily drivers with clean metal, no primer, and Rustoleum brushed on.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Is this vehicle going to be driven in the winter ?

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

I brushed on agriguard, it’s hard to find though. Used rust bullet on the floor, it flows out well and seals the frame

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Not planning on winter driving.

I've been thinking about using a rust inhibitor or converter on frame/mounts etc, wherever there is pitted rust that can't be cleaned up perfectly with wire wheeling, and then top coating with Krylon Satin Black. I painted the rear diff this way and hopefully it holds up. Wire wheeled it up best I could, then red scotch brite, and brake cleaner to degrease. Sprayed a few coats of rust inhibitor primer, then top coated with Krylon Satin Black.

Maybe POR would be better and then top coat?

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

I was thinking about using rust-mort. Lots of good reviews as well.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

VHT Epoxy Satin Black. Not the Rollbar paint. It's a challenge to find but it turns out pretty nice. I agree, you have to clean, treat and prime it to make it last.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MSR7243 NAPA chassis black But it's all in the prep.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

VHT Chassis & Roll Bar paint is a decent and so is their Epoxy Satin Black product. Both are epoxy and claims to be chemical resistant but I can tell you from experience brake fluid will strip just about any rattle can paint right off if you don't clean it up immediately. Rustoleum appliance epoxy is much cheaper than VHT and is pretty similar $25 for 6 can at Home Depot vs VHTs $8 each. The 2K aerosols are more chip & chemical resistant but expensive. I'm not trying to win any shows so I will just touch it up on occasion. The VHT Epoxy that I sprayed on my control arms is holding up pretty good.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

I used Eastwood's extreme chassis black. I hand stripped the chassis to bare metal and used their rust encapsulater over the bare metal. It has been rock hard.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

That looks good!
What makes it better than the rollbar paint? Anything specific?

Ugh.. I know. Such a pain since it is on a suburban and can't just pull off the box, or cab easily.

Thanks! Did you prime first then hit it with VHT? Or since it is epoxy, it's all in one?

Im up in Canada, and by the time a few suppliers bring it up, and import etc, the price becomes ridiculous. If I was down in the lower 48, Eastwood would have been my go to.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

No, I applied it direct to bare metal as stated in the instructions. Removed all the paint, rust and grease from the factory part with a wire wheel, de-greased with simple green Pro HD Heavy Duty cleaner and then went over them again with some Sprayway glass cleaner. I read lots of threads recommending the Sprayway glass cleaner for paint prep. Worked great for me.

Here is how my spindles turned out. This is the gloss, which comes out more like a semi-gloss.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Nice! It turned out good! Thanks for sharing!!
-Dexter

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Rustoleum. It's a tough paint. Just prep your chassis really well.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Rustoleum. Wire brush/degrease/wash. Rusty metal primer and semi gloss or Satin black.

Re: Best spray can primer/paint for chassis?
 

Thanks! I think i might try one product on one side and a different product on the other and see how they hold up... or take the info and go with which ever is more cost friendly.