Scaramouch kindly donated some mast steps and Ive nearly completed stripping them down back to bare aluminum.
The reason they corrode after being painted is when opened and use it eventually cracks the paint where the step section is supported under weight from the mast mount and then there open to the weather
I ruled out painting them and also powder coating which leave to three left as I see it
1. leave them natural
2. coat them with Nyalic
3 . Anodizing them
I have not looked at the cost
What would every one else use ?







Ive done another 11/2 hours on then since this photo
There about 95% finished

SandS said..
this mob may price them for you HG

www.aafonline.com.au/finish-range/anodising/

I emailed then last night Sands plus the seaford electro platers offer some thing for aluminium www.mme.com.au/

See what churns out
Going in early to finish them off this morning

southace said...
Pure gold plated should do the trick Ho2

South Ace
What your postal address so I can send the gold plating bill

Do you think Tectyl is worth a look?

petroleumservicecompany.com/industrial-long-term-rust-protection/

Would you not paint them the same way as you did your mast?

If you found a coating that was better than the mast coating you had already applied, you will have a crap looking mast - with good looking steps.

OR

If you applied a coating that was worse than the coating on the mast, you will end up with crap looking steps - and a nice mast.

Hopefully the coating will last a good long time....at the very least longer than you, so it won't be your problem?

Exactly Sands painting would look great until they were used several times then the paint or powder coat cracks and the corrosion begins .
But the problem become worst as then the paint jams the step from being opened.
Some of the steps the paint flakes and jams between the two part.
If I was buying new mast steps Id buy the Nylon ones there exactly the same as these but Nylon .
I used Kill rust epoxy white after a coat of primer on my mast maybe Ill just do it to the steps and worry latter
Be a lot easier