I planned on painting the tire rack and the trailer hitch



As you can see they are not that bad but I'd like to take care of it now not later. I planned on using a wire brush, 300 grit sand paper and maybe a rotary wire brush thingy on a drill and sanding down to bare metal. ooh yeah I'll be using rattle can paint too

So what kind of primer should I use? self etching? filler? epoxy primer?
How many coats of primer?
Should I sand between coats of primer?
Do I need to sand the primer before paint?
-if so what kind of grit?
How many coats of paint?
Is flat black Rustoleum a good paint? (for a rattle can)
Should I sand in between coats of paint?
Should I use flat clear coat?

Any tips of painting it?

 

first off try and take them off the truck it will prob be alot easier to work on and it will turn out mucho better in the end.. i cant rem the manu but theres a paint that you can spray right over rust, I think its rustoleum!! if you do it that way at least sand down the roughness of the rust and then just spray, no primer needed!! Self etching primer isnt needed on that kind of item... Self etching primer is used for like when you are sanding and painting chrome parts like bumpers.. It doesnt chip off as easily as reg primer would.. yes you should sand between coats if you have to prime something!! or you can just get a scuff pad and scuff it up till its kinda dull. its helps the paint to adhere better.. Just make sure your hands are clean while doing all of this... if you have to go to an autobody supply place and get whats called Prepsol, its a fast drying grease remover.. wipe it on, and off right away dont leave it on.. just a quik wipe on and wipe off two diff towels..whew does that help ya any?? if ya wanna come to Long Island i`ll help ya with it...I just rec painted my front bumper with Dupli-color spary cans and it came out perfect..

 

I planned on taking off the tire rack but the hitch might be rusted on (so it's probably not coming off for paint)


Will rubbing alcohol work for degrease?
How many coats of paint?
Should I sand between coats of paint? (if there is more than one coat)
Should I use a flat clear coat? or is it just overkill

Thanks for your help. I'll post pics after I'm done

 

okay step 1 take tire off tire rack and remove tire rack itself
step 2 sand whole surface with 400 grit sandpaper to allow primer to adhere
step 3 use whatever primer you want
step 4 sand primer back down with 400-600 grit paper (use guidecoat to tell you where you have sanded a very fine haze of black spraypaint will work as a guide coat)
step 5 if you are happy with how the primer looks and it has covered everything nicely use prepsol or any other type of wax and grease remover
step 6 paint 1st coat or paint
step 7 read directions on can to allow suficient flash time between coats
step 8 spray second coat allow sufficient flash time afterwards before you clear
step 9 clear coat
step10 after allowing for flash time second coat of clear
step 11 let dry (follow directions on can of paint for dry time)
step 12 once dry untape and remount
my father owns a body shop so i know the steps to paint thing i know its long and tedious but do NOT sand between coats of paint you dont need to one coat of primer should be enough and make sure when you paint its in a well ventilated area.

 

it's not happening this weekend

the bottom bolt (right below the tail light) is stuck, so I took it to my mechanic, he striped the torx head (not his fault) and today I tried with a bolt extractor to remove it, well that didn't happen. So for the next week (after I drill a whole behind the tail light) I'll be PB blasting it so hope to god it comes out

today was not a good day