Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Painting powder coated steel AV rack?

I'm looking to paint my Grey Steel Powder-coated Omnimount AV Rack. I'd like to turn it black, maybe a little glossy. Image below:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882798012

Does anyone have any experience painting powder coated steel? I'm thinking if I make sure it is very clean, lightly sand it, apply a aerosol primer made for metal (maybe from an auto shop?) and then paint with a semi-gloss black aerosol (again maybe from an auto shop) that I will get good results.

If anyone has any input that would be great. Thanks.

I'm no expert but from my few experiences with powder coated Jeep parts,
#1 Sanding will definitely be key. Enough to create slight texture but don't destroy the thing.
#2 Spray both primer and paint in very, very light coats as it will be twice as easy to make a drip appear. Again, refer back to #1.

I don't know if you need auto-shop paint but it certainly won't hurt. As always, the true experts should be along shortly.

P.S.
Not applicable but if you ever need to cover rust. Blue steel is an awesome product. Sand only enough to create texture as it actually needs the rust to bond. Goes on blue and dries black but will not give a nice finish for your needs.

I would suggest scuffing the rack with a 3m scotchbrite pad, just enough to make it dull. They make several different ones- you want the red ones. I forget the part number but can look if you want. That rack may take some time & effort as I've found sanding some powdercoat finishes to be like sanding a concrete floor.
Wipe it down with a damp rag followed immeditly with a clean dry rag
I would skip the primer and use quality trim black areosol from an autobody supply house. SEM is a brand I've used a lot. Most Napa stores have a body supply section and there stuff is decent.
Good luck and breath deep.

I'd say take it to your local LineX dealer.

Yeah, I'm sort of weighing my options. I talked to a paint rep with duplicolor and he suggested many of the above techniques, but to make sure and use a self etching primer.

I talked to a local powder coating shop and he said be could likely just re-powder coat over the existing costing as long as it was in good shape. He said for best results I should have him sand blast down to bare metal, then re-powder coat but that sound like a lot of work and $.

David, I didn't bother to check the post times, but I'm guessing the kitty incident has changed priorities.

Shop around for metal coating places. In any metro area, there should be at least several. You know they're going to get a better result.

If you're going to DYI it, everyone is on the right path so far. "Sand" with plastic steel wool.

It imitates real steel wool; 0=green, 00=maroon, 000=gray, 0000=white. They're about 2 bucks a sheet. I'd get one of each and see just how rough a grit this is going to take to get the surface sufficently abraided.

Any good quality spray primer should do. Some spray primers are now even available in black. It's about the primer bonding with the surface. After that, you can coat it with anything, though I'd stay away from jellies and jams.

Thanks. Still going to paint the AV rack but wont be until we move in a month. I'm getting a new TV and the silver no longer matches. Still deciding between DIY or paying more $$ for someone to paint it for me.

I'm currently working on my kids '78 El Camino now and we are repainting with House of Kolor Passion Pearl (PBC65). For the whole car - primer, sealer, color coat, and clear coat, we're looking at $2200 just in materials! So we're taking our time and getting the surface as good as we can get it. We started with the hood to see if the whole car was do-able... turns out its a much bigger project than X-times the hood. Anyway, like others have said, surface prep is key. You may be able to find a local powdercoater that will give you a really nice gloss black, but will charge you an arm and a leg for sanding. If you have more time than money, you can do it yourself. For surface prep, look at color sanding with 320-500 grit wet/dry paper and a backup pad with some dish soap in the water. This keeps the paper from loading up with sand dust. The foam sanding pad will knock down the existing orange peel bumps to flat. Go to an auto paint supply store and get the good stuff. You can buy wet/dry paper by the sheet and for that rack, I'd get 6-8 half sheets and a pad - $10-12 tops.
I'm in Gulf Shores, AL on the beach now... well not really ON the beach, but in a cool beach house nonetheless... I'll post pics when I get home.

See pics in gallery. The hood was as-painted, before final color sanding and polishing.

There was a comment earlier about using an etching primer. These are normally used on bare metal and will not be much better than a regular catalyzed primer if used over sanded paint or powder coat or other primer.

Thanks.