Exterior Paint for Gantry

[Jaeger_S2k]

This will be living, for a good part of a year, outside with little protection.
I'd like to give it some coating to help it stay in good condition, and to make it less industrial.

Typically, Hammerite would be my first choice, I've little experience of any other metal/industrial style coatings.

What would be the front-runners for you?

Size is approx 3mtr x 3mtr. Has 2 x 500 kilo chain hoists, in fixed positions. They are bolted through with the leg stands on the end of the beam.
Looking at also adding a bean runner with a 3.5 ton chain hoist to free run along the beam. What 'damage' will the bean runner do to any coating?

I'll spec the beams and legs later.

 

[Wildefalcon]

Not hammerite. Jotun jotamastic topped by whatever you like.

 

[arther dailey]

tractol is pretty robust .

 

[Dcal]

Epoxy mastic and pretty much any top coat.
Jotamastic 90 or 90A would be my choice but other flavours are available.

Epoxies aren't UV stable and will chalk in sunlight. It won't effect their performance but they will change colour, if that bothers you.
You can get it tinted for a one coat system but the above still applies.

 

[zzr1200]

Johnson Paint do a very good smooth metal paint (use it then wait for it to flash off then apply a second coat) I prefer it to Hammerite, but be sitting down when you ask/see the price..... It will crack/wear where the trolley wheels run, but so will any paint.

Johnstone's Trade Smooth Metal Paint Tinted Colour Match

Johnstone's Trade Smooth Metal Paint is a primer and top coat in one. A solvent-based gloss finish, it can be applied directly to bare, previously painted or rusted surfaces. It offers up to 5 years of protection, longer than a regular maintenance cycle with other similar products on the...

www.thepaintshed.com

 

[nickk]

I’ve only used hammerite on badly rusted and pitted steel,found it’s excellent but wasteful on good steel. I can only comment on the fabrications I’ve made in the last 40 years and that’s Jotun touch up,I get it in 4.5/5 litre cans,very tough and quick drying.

 

[premmington]

Boat paint - International Toplac

Buy the primer and undercoat to match - spendy - but it is good.

I really into this for my garage and associated metal stuff in workshop.

https://www.international-yachtpaint.com/gb/en/products/toplac-plus

 

[paulcar]

Combicolor Rust-oleum.

 

[steve t]

I’ve only used hammerite on badly rusted and pitted steel,found it’s excellent but wasteful on good steel. I can only comment on the fabrications I’ve made in the last 40 years and that’s Jotun touch up,I get it in 4.5/5 litre cans,very tough and quick drying.

Never seen that touch up before looks good. Can you spray it on?

 

[frank horton]

tractor enamal.....
both primer and top coat pretty much bomb proof n reasonable to buy....

 

[nickk]

Never seen that touch up before looks good. Can you spray it on?

Yes.

 

[MoreWellie]

tractol is pretty robust .

I'd agree with that with a few provisos
1. Make sure the surface you are painting it on to is clean dry and well sanded so it can grip. I have had it flake off with a pressure washer when my preparation wasn't as good as it could have been
2. Give it a good drying period, a week or two is ideal
3. Apply it in a well ventilated space or even outdoors if you don't mind the flies/dust/drifting blossom/dandelion seed

I think the beam runner will crack or wear through most coatings especially moving it with weight on it so be prepared to renew it occasionally or maybe put some some sort of protection along there like nylon or something that won't deform with the point weight

 

[Jaeger_S2k]

Thank you, everyone.
Really great info I wasn't aware of, certainly be moving Hammerite down my list.
The enamels are tractor enamel and Boat paint Toplac are now filed for machine and finer coatings, but I think Jotun is the winner, pricey, but isn't all of it?

I’ve only used hammerite on badly rusted and pitted steel,found it’s excellent but wasteful on good steel. I can only comment on the fabrications I’ve made in the last 40 years and that’s Jotun touch up,I get it in 4.5/5 litre cans,very tough and quick drying.

I've been on SML Paints website, they're the cheapest I've found so far. Looking at the Jotun products Jotun Touch Up isn't in the line-up but does appear if you search for it?
Wifey has just agreed to paint the gantry, having looked at the specification for (@steve t look here TouchUp, I don't know if it'll be best for her to apply, honestly I'm wondering if it's the best in this situation. It's flexibility may be better for knocks and the beam roller?
@nickk, from your experience, would you suggest some thinning of it to help flow and flattening from a brush/roller?

Anyone else got any comments on Jotun, which product would be best, single multi-coat build-up or 2 part epoxy?
Colour will be Black.
.

 

[Jaeger_S2k]

I'd agree with that with a few provisos
1. Make sure the surface you are painting it on to is clean dry and well sanded so it can grip. I have had it flake off with a pressure washer when my preparation wasn't as good as it could have been
2. Give it a good drying period, a week or two is ideal
3. Apply it in a well ventilated space or even outdoors if you don't mind the flies/dust/drifting blossom/dandelion seed

I think the beam runner will crack or wear through most coatings especially moving it with weight on it so be prepared to renew it occasionally or maybe put some some sort of protection along there like nylon or something that won't deform with the point weight

All noted and great advice, I think I'm going with Josun just deciding 2 part or single multi-coat, but I'll be looking at a runner, nylon or similar for the beam runner. That's a great idea. Thanks.

 

[eSCHEn]

Can't speak to anything other than Jotun 87 and it's a great product. It does 'chalk' in appearance if in sunlight but that doesn't affect its performance.

I did go through a similar process of choosing a while back and that's over here if you are interested. TLDR; I ended up with Jotun 87 and just rattle can over the top if I want a colour.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

What about Skip paint ?

 

[Barking Mat]

Combicolor Rust-oleum.

This is what we use, not cheap, but very good.

 

[zzr1200]

What about Skip paint ?

It's not always available in the colour shade required when you've been "Skip Diving" for supplies...........

 

[CompoSimmonite]

It's not always available in the colour shade required when you've been "Skip Diving" for supplies...........

I mean the paint that skips are painted with

 

[zzr1200]

I mean the paint that skips are painted with