Protecting Your Power Rack

For many fitness enthusiasts, investing in your very own power rack is something to look forward to. This self-contained steel frame gives you the ability to do virtually any exercise easily and safely. However, since it bears the brunt of constant impact from heavy weights, it can start to degrade rather quickly if not properly maintained. Superficial damage like chipped paint is one thing, but corrosion can be very dangerous. No one wants to experience having the rack fall apart the moment they place a barbell on it.

One excellent solution is to have your rack undergo a protective coating treatment. There are a lot of quality products available in the market today that allow you to easily do the process at home. The coat will shield your equipment from abrasions and impact and entirely eliminate any risk of corrosion. Both rust and chemical degradation will no longer be a threat. In addition, these coats come in very attractive finishes and colors, letting you beautify your rack as well.

The first step is to completely disassemble the power rack to its constituent parts. Thoroughly clean each component. If necessary, purchase a degreaser compound in order to remove any traces of oil. The pieces have to be entirely free of moisture or any other impurities before the coating is applied. Any contaminant left behind can potentially cause the coat’s adhesion to fail and lift away from the metal.

The next step is to rough up the surface of each metallic piece. This is to give the protective coating something to bind to when it’s applied. When sanding down the metal, it’s important to use a 180-grit Aluminum oxide sheet. Glass beads grit might leave bits of nonmetal pieces on the surface which would hinder the proper adhesion of the coating.

Now, you’re ready to start spraying the protective coating for metal parts. Be patient when you do this. Go slow and steady to ensure even application. Applying too much coating at one time risks making the finish run. Apply one thin coat at a time and wait for it to thoroughly dry before applying the next layer. Stop when you’ve completely covered every exposed surface.

It’s crucial that you allow the protective coating enough time to properly cure. A few hours in a kiln or oven would do the trick just fine. Afterwards, you can simply reassemble your corrosion-proof power rack.