DarrenWS6
The original Ford guy around here
Painting bed rail caps.
Here is my write up for re-painting faded bed rail caps. This will work for any '97+ Ford truck because they come with bed rail caps standard.
Sick of grey faded trim and tired of applying dressings and dyes that only need to be re-applied after & after? Then paint them! Products used, and necessities
400, and 1000 Grit Sand Paper
2 Roles of Painters Tape
A S$%@ Load of Newspaper
2 cans of Dupli Color Plastic Adhesion Promoter
1 can of Krylon Grey Primer
2 cans of Krylon Fushion Satin Black
I did not take any before shots, but my caps were pretty faded and white spotted. This is about the closest shot I have displaying a rail cap zoomed in from a different purpose photo.
First Step, Preparation.
I began by spraying some Simple Green onto a cloth and scrubbing the bed rail caps real well for a thorough cleaning. I did not remove the bed caps because I've never seen it done, and I did not have any glue at hand for re-applying, and did not want to go through a huge hassle. I masked with a small margin of tape under the caps to prevent any overspray and wrapped along the entire truck bed, and tailgate.
( also in the process of painting the rail caps, I was painting the rock guards up front, and on the bed using same method )
I then grabbed the s$%@ load of news paper, began unfolding and taping it to the truck bed outside, inside, on the tailgate, in the cracks of where the bed and cab meet, and the rear windows.
Second Step, Priming.
Because I could not find any black primer, I settled with the grey Krylon primer. I first sprayed the caps with the adhesion promoter, I did two layers with 10 minute intervals. I did two layers of primer with also 10 minute intervals, and sanded with 1000 grit between layers.
I do have some nicks and etches in my caps, but I did not bother sanding them all down flush.
Third Step, Painting.
I used everybody's favorite, Krylon Fushion Satin Black for paint. I sprayed the caps once for with adhesion promoter to ensure a definite paint hold. Followed up with the actual paint. I did 3 light layers, 10 minutes inbetween, and 1000 grit sanding between layers.
I finished here. I did not use clear coat because I did not have anything with a flat clear finish. I do not want to have glossy looking caps. So far its been 3 months since I have done this and they have held up very well. I will report if any flaking occurs. Winter is just beginning.
And heres a personal insurance tip. Check this out.
Notice the highlighted area. Remember way up top when I recommended two rolls of painters tape? Yes that does sound like a bit much, but I was working with a half role on my entire job. Inncidentally, I should have taped over the top layer of the news paper, but since I ran out of tape and do not have another vehicle to run to the hardware store with, I made due. Well I made a mistake and had some overspray..
So be warned, a second roll of tape wouldn't hurt to buy if you aren't starting off with a brand new roll to begin with. It took me a little over 3 hours to remove all of this. I only had a smooth surface clay kit, and Meguiars Ultimate Rubbing Compound which is what really got this off. I was fortunate to catch this intime before it dried and bonded too long, and very very fortunate to have just done a full detail and fresh wax. Though I had to re-polish, and re-wax my bed afterwards. What a labor involved job this was
This concludes my write up
Here is my write up for re-painting faded bed rail caps. This will work for any '97+ Ford truck because they come with bed rail caps standard.
Sick of grey faded trim and tired of applying dressings and dyes that only need to be re-applied after & after? Then paint them! Products used, and necessities
400, and 1000 Grit Sand Paper
2 Roles of Painters Tape
A S$%@ Load of Newspaper
2 cans of Dupli Color Plastic Adhesion Promoter
1 can of Krylon Grey Primer
2 cans of Krylon Fushion Satin Black
I did not take any before shots, but my caps were pretty faded and white spotted. This is about the closest shot I have displaying a rail cap zoomed in from a different purpose photo.
First Step, Preparation.
I began by spraying some Simple Green onto a cloth and scrubbing the bed rail caps real well for a thorough cleaning. I did not remove the bed caps because I've never seen it done, and I did not have any glue at hand for re-applying, and did not want to go through a huge hassle. I masked with a small margin of tape under the caps to prevent any overspray and wrapped along the entire truck bed, and tailgate.
( also in the process of painting the rail caps, I was painting the rock guards up front, and on the bed using same method )
I then grabbed the s$%@ load of news paper, began unfolding and taping it to the truck bed outside, inside, on the tailgate, in the cracks of where the bed and cab meet, and the rear windows.
Second Step, Priming.
Because I could not find any black primer, I settled with the grey Krylon primer. I first sprayed the caps with the adhesion promoter, I did two layers with 10 minute intervals. I did two layers of primer with also 10 minute intervals, and sanded with 1000 grit between layers.
I do have some nicks and etches in my caps, but I did not bother sanding them all down flush.
Third Step, Painting.
I used everybody's favorite, Krylon Fushion Satin Black for paint. I sprayed the caps once for with adhesion promoter to ensure a definite paint hold. Followed up with the actual paint. I did 3 light layers, 10 minutes inbetween, and 1000 grit sanding between layers.
I finished here. I did not use clear coat because I did not have anything with a flat clear finish. I do not want to have glossy looking caps. So far its been 3 months since I have done this and they have held up very well. I will report if any flaking occurs. Winter is just beginning.
And heres a personal insurance tip. Check this out.
Notice the highlighted area. Remember way up top when I recommended two rolls of painters tape? Yes that does sound like a bit much, but I was working with a half role on my entire job. Inncidentally, I should have taped over the top layer of the news paper, but since I ran out of tape and do not have another vehicle to run to the hardware store with, I made due. Well I made a mistake and had some overspray..
So be warned, a second roll of tape wouldn't hurt to buy if you aren't starting off with a brand new roll to begin with. It took me a little over 3 hours to remove all of this. I only had a smooth surface clay kit, and Meguiars Ultimate Rubbing Compound which is what really got this off. I was fortunate to catch this intime before it dried and bonded too long, and very very fortunate to have just done a full detail and fresh wax. Though I had to re-polish, and re-wax my bed afterwards. What a labor involved job this was
This concludes my write up
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but my toolbox sits on that now so it's not a big deal 
