Questions about POR-15 on a truck frame

[brownac1983]

Hey guys,
I have a '52 F-1 torn down that I'm about to start rebuilding. I'm planning on using POR-15 on the frame (wire brushed, not blasted). I have a couple of questions for those that have done this before:

- Are any other products preferable to POR-15 for a frame? I've heard good things about Rust Bullet, Eastwood, etc. but I like that POR-15 has a longer track record.
- What is the best topcoat to keep it from fading?
- How much should I get? I want to have enough for the frame, axles and whatever other parts I want to coat. How much does just a frame take? Should I buy it by the gallon, or by quarts? Will the gallon keep if I only use part of it?
- Any other advice prior to starting?

Thanks.
-Drew

[bbyrnes1]

I would get a gallon for the whole frame. The stuff lays on pretty thick.
The best way to make it last the longest is before you put the lid back on, BE SURE AND CLEAN THE EDGE! You will NEVER get the can open again if you don't, and that's a promise. A little bit of insurance to help it keep is to put a sheet of wax paper under the lid before you close it up. We keep ours in the refrigerator to help it keep too.

As far as fading somebody else may chime in, but I imagine a clear coat or something.

Brandon

[cole71]

I use the chasis black for the topcoat. I also use the chasis black only on stuff too and it does fine.

[sargentrs]

I use the chasis black for the topcoat. I also use the chasis black only on stuff too and it does fine.

Same here. It goes farther if you can spray it. I put two coats of POR-15 on my frame, inside and out. Two quarts covered all of it and I sprayed it heavy. Then laid on two coats of Eastwood high gloss Chassis Black. Came out beautiful and a rock hard finish. Two quarts of that covered two coats, too. I bought 3 more quarts of both and sprayed every suspension part, bracket, pulley, etc. Then I bought a gallon, sprayed my cab bottom, cab floor, inner fenders, and the inside of my fenders, valances, entire cab support, rear end...heck, I painted nearly everything with it and still have about a quart left. Check out my build thread and you can see the results. Every black part is 2 coats of POR and 2 coats of chassis black. Altogether I've bought about two gallons of each.

[brownac1983]

Same here. It goes farther if you can spray it. I put two coats of POR-15 on my frame, inside and out. Two quarts covered all of it and I sprayed it heavy. Then laid on two coats of Eastwood high gloss Chassis Black. Came out beautiful and a rock hard finish. Two quarts of that covered two coats, too. I bought 3 more quarts of both and sprayed every suspension part, bracket, pulley, etc. Then I bought a gallon, sprayed my cab bottom, cab floor, inner fenders, and the inside of my fenders, valances, entire cab support, rear end...heck, I painted nearly everything with it and still have about a quart left. Check out my build thread and you can see the results. Every black part is 2 coats of POR and 2 coats of chassis black. Altogether I've bought about two gallons of each.

Just got done looking at it. Nice work. What did you thin the POR with to spray it, or will it spray full strength? Was it really nasty to spray, did you need anything above and beyond a regular respirator?

[sargentrs]

Respirator, what's a respirator? But seriously, I thinned it about 10% with plain old generic Paint Thinner from Home Depot. I bought a cheap $15 gun from Harbor Freight and disposable cups, not for sure but I think about a 1.5 mm tip. It sprayed nice and evenly. Pretty nasty stuff. If you get it on anything and let it dry, it's on there forever, if you catch it before then, it wipes off with paint thinner. Sets in about 20 minutes. I painted outside so I didn't use anything but a paper mask. Clean your gun thoroughly and it'll be OK but I wouldn't use a $200 paint gun for it. I'm on my 3rd Harbor Freight gun in 2 years just spraying POR-15 and chassis black. I have good DeVilbiss guns for primer and base coat.

[bevdan]

Would you need to sand the por-15 before applying a top coat of paint?

[sargentrs]

Nope. Directions say spray the first coat, let dry 1 hour, spray the 2nd coat, let cure between 6-36 hours before spraying top coat. After 36 hours you should lightly sand before top coating. I never violated the 6-36 hour rule andit came out great. If I couldn't get it done in a 2 day period I didn't start.

[rusty2872]

I'm planning on using a chassis coating I got from a company called KBS (http://www.kbs-coatings.com/). They actually sell a kit that has a rust remover, cleaner and quart of paint for around $50. I haven't used it yet but, from what I have seen (car shows, demonstrations, etc...) it looks just as good for half the price. The guy I bought the kit from said a quart of this stuff will cover the frame twice. Not sure if that is true but, I will find out pretty soon.