How to Prep Bare Metal for Paint

Every paint failure traces back to prep. Get bare metal ready properly and your finish bonds for good. Here's the sequence.

1. Clean & degrease

Wax, oil and fingerprints stop paint bonding. Degrease thoroughly and don't touch the bare metal afterwards.

2. Remove rust

Strip any rust back to sound metal or treat it (you can't paint over active rust — see why).

3. Etch / prime

Bare steel needs an etch or tie-coat so the topcoat grips. This is Stage 3 of the system.

4. Topcoat promptly

Don't leave prepped bare metal overnight — it flash-rusts. Seal or topcoat the same day. → Shop prep products

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