EAG armor stripped and refinished

[TimboSlice]

Just wanted to give a small insight on why the EAG rear armor sections are so cheap. The black coating that comes on them is not powder coat. It is an epoxy paint. Thankfully I know someone in the sandblast and powder coat industry and they were able to remove the cheap epoxy finish and coat to match these pieces. I bought a set of these at a HUGE discount rate. First I had to use multiple coats of paint stripper to agitate and start the coating removal. Then I was able to blast (multiple cycles in industrial unit) the original coating off. I have seen many complaints of rust issues to due moisture under EAG's coating. Here are mine renewed with a powder coat and industrial clear coat. I would never buy my sliders from them due to the mounting technique, but that is next.

 

[Chris]

Having owned an EAG front bumper in the past, I too was in disbelief that it was powder coat used on the bumper. I say that because I found that it chipped off way too easily to be powder coat, and wasn't thick enough to be powder coat either.

Thanks for confirming what I already knew in my head, but hadn't confirmed myself.

I suppose this is one reason they're able to sell them for so cheap, because they aren't even powder coated.

I also like that you body matched the armor. That looks so much better than leaving it black IMHO.

 

[TimboSlice]

Having owned an EAG front bumper in the past, I too was in disbelief that it was powder coat used on the bumper. I say that because I found that it chipped off way too easily to be powder coat, and wasn't thick enough to be powder coat either.

Thanks for confirming what I already knew in my head, but hadn't confirmed myself.

I suppose this is one reason they're able to sell them for so cheap, because they aren't even powder coated.

I also like that you body matched the armor. That looks so much better than leaving it black IMHO.

Thanks Chris! Yes I am so sick of seeing the two tone black on whatever color armor scheme. This is why I will paint match mine. Researching sliders now and I know what I am looking for. Might need to do a little fabbing due to different mfgs but im not worried.

 

[Chris]

Thanks Chris! Yes I am so sick of seeing the two tone black on whatever color armor scheme. This is why I will paint match mine. Researching sliders now and I know what I am looking for. Might need to do a little fabbing due to different mfgs but im not worried.

I hear you. I see the TJs all the time with the black armor and it gets old really fast. This way you actually have to do a double take to tell that there is armor on there.

Should look good with some sliders on it!

 

[TimboSlice]

I hear you. I see the TJs all the time with the black armor and it gets old really fast. This way you actually have to do a double take to tell that there is armor on there.

Should look good with some sliders on it!

Yes! I prepped the area for now with POR and a top coat. I have sliders now I have not put on because I am not fond of them due to mounting on body mounts, I bought them a very long time ago. Prolly sell them off to a Jeeper looking for cosmetics. I dont want this to turn into a slider thread so ill leave it at that. lol

 

[cad]

I'm surprised it was such a tedious task of multiple coats of paint stripper as well as multiple cycles in an "industrial" blaster to remove cheap epoxy paint.

 

[TimboSlice]

I'm surprised it was such a tedious task of multiple coats of paint stripper as well as multiple cycles in an "industrial" blaster to remove cheap epoxy paint.

Welcome to the forum! Anything that isnt a hard material is hard to blast. The elasticity of the epoxy paint absorbs alot of the energy created by blasting. This is why it required a many runs. These are marketed to make consumers think they have a quality coating when they really do not. Any imperfection in this epoxy paint process will allow moisture, and contain it. It will start rusting under the coating.

 

[cad]

Welcome to the forum! Anything that isnt a hard material is hard to blast. The elasticity of the epoxy paint absorbs alot of the energy created by blasting. This is why it required a many runs. These are marketed to make consumers think they have a quality coating when they really do not. Any imperfection in this epoxy paint process will allow moisture, and contain it. It will start rusting under the coating.

Good info, thanks!

 

[Sjyellowjeep]

I would have to say those bumpers are very durable though. I hit a concrete barrier ( after jumping a curb and breaking a shock mount, avoiding bigger accident, so big my backpack flew 20 feet away) and the passenger front held up and just had slight damage to the passenger fender). It is rusty now, but did save my front end.