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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Painting Rails

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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
I have a question for anyone with experience building rails for terrain parks.

I've been helping out my local hill with some new features for the park, and we're planning on painting some of the new features. In the past, new rails that were painted ended up being pretty sticky until the paint wore off; I want to try and avoid having that happen this time. So my question is, what method of painting/type of paint is best in order to end up with the best finish that won't affect the sliding of the rail?

Low cost is best.
12 years ago
20 5
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,168
I'd say just put painters tape on the sliding surface and paint around it. Rails really suck with paint on them, I tried spray painting a pvc rail and caught edge every time. I have no experience with real park rails, but based on experience with pvc rail, keep the paint off the sliding surface.
12 years ago
4 0
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Flowbear
Posts: 339 - Karma: 828
Painting your rails is kind of a necessity it has nothing to do with looks if u don't paint them they will rust to crap. I usually use rust paint, tremclad's probably the best and don't get spray paint use a paint brush for a thicker stronger coat and do like 2 or 3 coats and grind all rust and previous paint off the surface and sand it a little before painting so it has something to grip too, then apply some ski wax throughout the season (make sure it's for the right temp so it slides better) then it should be smooth as a baby's bottom! Hope that helps.
12 years ago
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manzear
Posts: 843 - Karma: 849
Paint them and if they are sticky, use some of that lubricant they put on the blade of the groomer. It works well and eliminates the sticky-ness. I will try and figure out the name of the lube, I am sure your hill will know what it is though.
12 years ago
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
use oil to prevent rust instead?

Im pretty sure thats the industry stndard
12 years ago
3 0
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Msully
Posts: 575 - Karma: 21
Sherwin Williams Industrial Enamel - allow 5 days for full cure in a room above 65* and it will last a long time when applied to the correct millage.
12 years ago
1 0
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T.L.
Posts: 4731 - Karma: 3,017
This is what I use on everything I've built in the past.  Any polyurethane enamel should be fine though.
http://www.coronadopaint.com/viewProd.asp?prodID=44

I tried this stuff on a few features this season to see how it works out.  It's latex based so it's easier to clean up which helps a lot.
http://corotechcoatings.com/viewProd.asp?prodID=546


12 years ago
1 0
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
I would never paint the sliding surface of a rail.
12 years ago
1 2
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,944
then you're an idiot
12 years ago
4 3
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Msully
Posts: 575 - Karma: 21
DTM would also be a good choice, just let the stuff cure before trying to slide it otherwise youll be hitting a rail thats like rubber/gooey
12 years ago
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
Wow, such an angry response for such a trivial thing. Please elaborate.
12 years ago
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Sky.
Posts: 1158 - Karma: 287
Douche
12 years ago
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HeathR
Posts: 4361 - Karma: 1,388
On the slide surface if you use spray paint and put on a light coat it will come of really easy and not be sticky. This will make sure it does not rust before it goes out. If you use a thicker roll on paint on the slide surface its going to be sticky until it all comes off. Some people don't paint the slide surface. In the ten seasons I have worked in parks I have never had a problem using this method.
12 years ago
1 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52583 - Karma: 174,073
If you're worried about the top being sticky just use a normal spray paint. I've been using some thick oil based rust inhibitor paint for the rest of the frame. Got like 15 gallons for free. Worked great on the towers and the rails. Just been spraying the tops though.


Honestly it doesn't take very long for the paint to come off the sides when people are grinding it.
12 years ago
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