narrowgauge Wrote:
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> Rather than painting grab irons, stirrup steps,
> etc that will likely be very seldom used and more
> for effect, I would recommend having them powder
> coated. Powder coating will stand up to the sun
> longer and remain looking good doing so. Powder
> coating will also seal the metal and eliminate
> rust streaks. Over time, you will recover more
> than you spent on it in saved time and materials
> painting again.
In addition to this, thoughtful selection of paint system is just as important. Proper preparation of substrate, priming, and topcoat(s) goes a very long way to achieving a long-lasting finish. For example, an epoxy system would be a lesser choice of finish, as it will yellow and degrade through time exposure to UV and the elements. Something like a polyurethane system will be much more stable in the long term.