Refinishing the rub rails.

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Mon May 21, 2007 12:19 pm

I was just wondering if (and how) some of you have replaced or refinished your wooden rub rails. I've seen metal, rubber, and, synthetic wood used in place of the factory wood. Any stories?

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon May 21, 2007 12:38 pm

Lots and lots of sandpaper and elbow grease.

Seriously. Use a paint stripper to get most of the paint off, and then use an 80-grit sandpaper to remove the paint and grayed surface.

Use finer papers until you get to around 320 to 400, then stain, or coat with a clear polyurethane.

Once dried, lightly go over this with 400-grit paper and recoat with the polyurethane. Repeat as necessary.

Steve

1973 712M

M Wehrman · Post by **M Wehrman** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:16 pm

And one good outing and all is undone!

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:55 pm

Nah...grocery carts don't reach that high.

krick3tt · Post by **krick3tt** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:00 am

Yeah, but really big rocks do!
That is why I carry a rattle can of OD paint.

Cheers,
Morris

Pinz Enthusiast · Post by **Pinz Enthusiast** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:04 pm

I've redone mine with Herculiner bed liner, couple of good coats and after a year of bashing into the rocks and trees, a few small spots need touch ups, though that pales in comparasion to the fact that mine are rotting away from behind, one has split so I now have a front and rear section, new ones will be getting the bed liner treatment though, sooner rather than later I hope.

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:23 pm

What's with the phenomenon of Pinz owners refusing to do anything to the exteriors of their rigs? I know, I know, it's not a fashion show but sheeesh... I've seen folks fixate over little details like motorized window washers, remote controlled shock adjusters, engine swaps, fuel injection, etc, ... After putting thousands of dollars into their Pinz, it still is a rusty, blotchy, poorly painted, eyesore with rotting wood rails! What gives?

PinzEOD · Post by **PinzEOD** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:25 pm

Twin Pinzies wrote:<snip>After putting thousands of dollars into their Pinz, it still is a rusty, blotchy, poorly painted, eyesore with rotting wood rails! What gives?

Hey!! I resemble that remark, 'cept I have part desert tan.part rust colored u-channel for rub rails.

ms1223 · Post by **ms1223** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:49 pm

I Linexed the rub rails. They do like to remove tree bark like sandpaper. Interior is linexed, roll bars and the inside and out of the bed. No one notices but another pinz owner.

Jim LaGuardia · Post by **Jim LaGuardia** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:53 pm

Twin Pinzies wrote:What's with the phenomenon of Pinz owners refusing to do anything to the exteriors of their rigs? I know, I know, it's not a fashion show but sheeesh... I've seen folks fixate over little details like motorized window washers, remote controlled shock adjusters, engine swaps, fuel injection, etc, ... After putting thousands of dollars into their Pinz, it still is a rusty, blotchy, poorly painted, eyesore with rotting wood rails! What gives?

Shiny paint is too girlie

Kiwibru · Post by **Kiwibru** » Wed May 23, 2007 12:22 am

Months and numerous dirt roads and tracks add to buildup layers...thus integrated into the O.D.

My wife wants me to do a "Rasta Digital" camo paint job to defy the often negative association some folks give any "military" type O.D. vehicle.
I just can't bring myself to do it. I just tell folks, "hey, this truck was in the Swiss military, they have never been in a war!"

My rails have so many layers of paint on them you can hardly tell they are wood! I think that is what holds them on too! (Last owner did create a mess by replacing lost 6mm screws with sheet metal screws that of course reduced the internal threads to nothing). Lazy bugger...