GIB question

[Kevin McGovern]

I am wondering if i should paint the PBF SLING I'm making. I think as they come with the unmachined black faces looks good, but I'm worried about rust on the edges. Does anyone know if rust is a concern? I bet if I taped off all but the edges and painted them a bright red or green, that would look pretty sweet.

 

[NC Biker]

If you don't paint it will rust. I painted my GIB flat black so that it could be touched up at any time.

 

[Kevin McGovern]

Did you strip the black coating off first, or just rough it up? how is the paint holding up?

 

[NC Biker]

Yeah, the black coating is mill scale. I took a wire wheel on a mini grinder and cleaned all the pieces off as best I could before paint. I then hit the parts with a coat of primer and then a flat black BBQ paint I had laying around. I run my grinder wet at times and after about a year the painted parts show no signs of rust. I can't say the same for some of the unpainted parts like my tool rest.