Painting a bike rack

Based on the shape and size of the rack's components, bedliner would not be my first or even my second choice. If it was me and I just HAD to change the color, I would have the rack bead blasted and powder coated.

Plastic dip stuff? I am not sure what kind of rack that is. One that you put on your bike, or one that holds your bike.


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Mcfarton said:

Plastic dip stuff? I am not sure what kind of rack that is. One that you put on your bike, or one that holds your bike.


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This is a bike rack that bikes go on, for a vehicle. Don’t think platidip will hold up as there is tire contact with the rack.

410sprint said:

Based on the shape and size of the rack's components, bedliner would not be my first or even my second choice. If it was me and I just HAD to change the color, I would have the rack bead blasted and powder coated.

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I was thinking just some aerosol bedliner. Some brands seem to spray on fairly smooth, something like a coarse sandpaper finish. Guys seem to use it for cargo racks on pickups, racks on atvs etc.

My other thought is to try the bedliner and if I don’t like the result, get it powder coated. It’s going to have to be blasted before powder coating anyways.

I assume that your second option would be to paint it? I thought about painting but was thinking the bedliner would be a little more durable/abrasion resistant.

big.griff1 said:

This is a bike rack that bikes go on, for a vehicle. Don’t think platidip will hold up as there is tire contact with the rack.

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Plastydip is sometimes used for tool handles. Needs to be thicker to hold up to abuse.

Try the bed liner as it is cheap and diy. Make sure you sand and clean it well first or it will just flake off also.


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Mcfarton said:

Plastydip is sometimes used for tool handles. Needs to be thicker to hold up to abuse.

Try the bed liner as it is cheap and diy. Make sure you sand and clean it well first or it will just flake off also.


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Plastidip was my first idea, I think the majority of it would hold up just fine, I’ve had great results with Plastidip for other uses. However, seeing as the factory powder coat has already worn through to bare metal in a couple spots after a half a dozen uses, I don’t think it would hold up unfortunately.

My vote is for the bedliner.

With any painting, Cleanliness is next to godliness. You will need to get rid of all dirt and grime and key the surface in by sanding. You can paint over powder coating by doing that process.

However, spray can paint is soft and wears out, chips easily, and generally looks ****. After a short period of time you will wear through your wheel hoop paint and start seeing the red again.

Paint it with a proper 2 pot automotive paint will be far superior and last a lot longer.

It is possible to powder coat back over the powder coat. Again the product needs to be clean AF and keyed in with an etch or sanding.

PS I have my own company building vertical bike racks. I have done all of the above during my prototyping phase. .
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You are absolutely correct on all counts. The one thing to keep in mind that a 2K system has many more safety concerns and is usually something better left for a professional. I've been a professional automotive painter for forty years. I recommended the SEM just because it's a fairly user friendly product and it looks good and is also fairly durable. I've used it for many bike applications with very few issues. If OP is looking for absolute durability powder coat is the answer with automotive urethane being second best neither of which will be cheap probably more than the cost of the rack.

Rngspnr said:

You are absolutely correct on all counts. The one thing to keep in mind that a 2K system has many more safety concerns and is usually something better left for a professional. I've been a professional automotive painter for forty years. I recommended the SEM just because it's a fairly user friendly product and it looks good and is also fairly durable. I've used it for many bike applications with very few issues. If OP is looking for absolute durability powder coat is the answer with automotive urethane being second best neither of which will be cheap probably more than the cost of the rack.

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I agree, 2 k is nasty stuff. Definately need a resparator for that stuff.... But it is good!.