Painting underside of decks

[Mike 6]

anybody tried bedliner like you spray in trucks ? If so how did it hold up?

[Digger 66 3,478]

I would think it would hold up well , but I also think it would retain more of the clippings due to the rough texture .

Just my opinion though .

I did mine with Valspar implement enamel & it still looks good & hoses off easily .

 

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

I do all mine with POR 15.Kind of expensive,but you get what you pay for.

[Firpo701 407]

I painted mine with the same paint that I painted the rest of the deck. Figured something was better than nothing to help inhibit rust somewhat. :-)

[Don1977 604]

I would clean and paint it will stop the rust. I don't believe anything is going to last if you have a sand or gravel drive. I try to do it ever couple years some times if goes three or four years before I get to it. I do clean it good about once a year.

[daveoman1966 3,745]

POR15 ..pricey, but it goes a long way.  It is VERY DURABLE and makes the surface slippery so that nothing sticks to it.  I also use POR15 on my dozer blade and that heavy wet snow just slides right off w/out sticking at all. 

[slammer302 2,155]

I did my lawn ranger deck in bedliner spay its holding up fine I don't know if I would do it again after doing some research I would paint and then use graphite coating called easy slide its made to keep stuff from sticking to what ever its applied to

[specialwheelhorse 174]

There is a marine grade liner, not rough

Nice and smooth!

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

I did my lawn ranger deck in bedliner spay its holding up fine I don't know if I would do it again after doing some research I would paint and then use graphite coating called easy slide its made to keep stuff from sticking to what ever its applied to

I used EZ Glide from TSC on two of my decks this year. I haven't pulled them to check though. I know others have used it with good results.

[Row Cropper 59]

Sometime around 1980, I started using graphite paint (EZ Glide or Slip Plate brands) to coat the underside of decks.  My first one I still have and it has never cut one blade of grass without that coating.  I bought this 42" rear-discharge deck new and coated it with graphite paint before ever using it.  Today it has no pitting and is absolutely as good as new!  All decks that I service for myself and neighbors,get the following treatment: 1. scrape all the clumps out with a stiff putty knife or similar tool  2,  go over everything under the deck with an air powered needle scaler to remove any additional hardened grass clippings and rust scale  3.  go over everything with a wire wheel on an angle grinder to expose clean, bright metal  4.  apply two coats of graphite paint (make sure you have good ventilation, this stuff will get you!)   A deck treated this way still requires periodic cleaning, but not as often nor as difficult as cleaning one wiithout it.

 

I have attached a photo of a recently treated cub deck.

[AMC RULES 37,125]

Scrape, wash, then paint liberally with used motor oil. 

[Cutlas3391 776]

 Armortek Non-Stick Outdoor Power Equipment Spray

[Geno 1,929]

Scrape, wash, then paint liberally with used motor oil. 

 

A great and free idea. 

[DennisThornton 4,769]

I've always done it as Craig suggested, but now I'm real curious about graphite products, be it EZ-Slide or:
http://www.cleandeck.net/
http://www.wilmargraphite.net/wgshop/en/6-clean-deck

I think Row Cropper is on to something from the picture.

[slammer302 2,155]

I've used the ez slide it does work but does not hold up very long just a couple times mowing and it gone

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[DennisThornton 4,769]

I've used the ez slide it does work but does not hold up very long just a couple times mowing and it gone

 

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Crap!  More hopes dashed!  And I already have a quart of EZ-Slide...  
Also, it's probably important to note that not everyone's lawn is the same.  Lot's of sand here and since they sand the roads in the winter there is always some sand that I have to deal with no matter how good or bad my turf is.  Wouldn't expect anything but a rubberized undercoat to stand up to the sand blasting!

Thanks for sharing!

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

I forgot to mention an additional step suggested by one of our members (can't recall who?) if using the E-Z Glide paint. I get it good and clean, prime, and then paint it gloss white. Then I use the E-Z Glide. That way when it wears, I just need to coat the area that is now white (green .)

[Live4outdoors 151]

I scrape mine atleast once a year and dump my used motor oil and paint brush it in and let sit upside down for a few days, deck looks great and doesn't cost anything!

[DennisThornton 4,769]

I scrape mine atleast once a year and dump my used motor oil and paint brush it in and let sit upside down for a few days, deck looks great and doesn't cost anything!

Been doing that for years but I was wondering if there was now a better way.

[ronhatch 406]

I've been using EZ Slip from Blain's Farm & Fleet for several years now. I try to clean and paint the deck(s) in the fall so they can dry all winter long. It keeps the deck from getting rusty but, the grass still sicks and I still have to use a putty knife and a RA grinder with a wire wheel to clean them up. Maybe I should try POR15.  I remember years ago my dad did the used motor oil thing on his deck.

[Row Cropper 59]

Bottom line - everyone has their own preference,

[Tankman 3,518]

During the mowing season, decks are frequently (like always) cleaned. Blown off, maybe hosed then blown off dry.

We do have a couple of ramps at-the-ready if we feel like it. Decks are cleaned before Horses back into their barn.

The Stallions are fed (gassed up) before shutting down for the night (or week, whatever).

Decks off each winter. Just in case the Stallions want to romp in the snow. Horse play of course.

 

Decks (heavy enough) go up on saw horses (reinforced with 2 x 4's, 1 x 4's, whatever), cleaned and undersides are painted.

The saw horses are wide enough for easy turnover; one-cowboy can do it.

Any Rustoleum, color doesn't matter on the underside. If we have to go purchase paint for the job, Rustoleum Regal Red.

Usually on the shelf at Home "Cheapo", 'bout four bucks a rattle can.

Part of the underside might be one color, another unseen part a different color (can't see under there anyway). Unless you're Superman of course.

 

Protecting steel, not making watches.

 

Top of the deck, you can see that! Rustoleum Regal Red if paint is needed.

Belts, if needed, Huskee Kevlar. Sizes are usually on the shelf at TSC. Inexpensive.

The belt cardboard sleeves are labelled for their use with a magic marker then staple gunned to the shop wall (reference for old memory cells).

Takes the guess work out of play when you need to go pick up another belt.

 

All zerks, greased. If any hardware shows age, replaced with stainless and always use Never-Seez on threads.

Blades sharpened or replaced if required.

The stainless hardware is usually in stock, on the shelf at Lowes.

 

 

Edited December 20, 2015 by Tankman

[fireman 1,021]

I have a friend who has a commercial lawn business. He has his decks lined with bed liner before he ever uses them. The bed liner company sprays them with a different tip on their gun that doesn't leave the texture. He never has to replace the decks do to rust just wear and tear. The grass and dirt just wash right off. He also has the entire underside of his plow trucks sprayed when they are new including the inside of the bed. The company unbolt the bed and lifts it up with a hoist so they get a coating on everything. Cost a bit but he gets 3 times the life of his trucks then before he started doing this. When you run a commercial business that goes a long way. The salt had been previously destroying his other trucks within 3 or 4 years. Now after that time they still look as good as new. 

[RedRanger 1,468]

I had a deck on my main mower blasted and powder coated this last spring.  The powder coat had a teflon mixed in.  Nothing stuck all summer.

This fall, I flipped it over and washed it.  Looks like new.

[mrc 810]

another vote for POR 15. 1 quart  can do 2 coats on 5-6 decks.  about $45-50. a quart  well worth it,  IMO  regards  mike in mass.