Painting the Top Rails

[bsbrega]

The top rails (metal) on my round 27' AGP are badly in need of painting. I do not want to take the rails off and bring 'em to an autobody shop. What are the best methods and materials? I suppose I need to scrape 'em all down first. Tried spray painting one year and wound up with a white cirlce around my body from all the paint mist floating on the surface! lol

[haze_1956]

Do you want to paint them in place to avoid the work of removing and reinstalling??

I suppose you could sand them, then brush or roll them in place.

Personally, I think the removal and reinstallation will be less work than the clean up after sanding, if you leave them on the pool.

I would remove them, sand, treat them with a rust neutralizer, then prime and spray paint, (both sides) and reinstall.

The quality and life of the job will only be as good as your preperation, so the extra elbow grease now, will give you more years without having to do this again!

[bsbrega]

The thought of removing these old bent rails is daunting. How is it done, anyway?

[haze_1956]

The cap that covers where the rails meet should be screwed on, and the rails screws will be under that cap.

My pool has a single screw in the side of the upright securing the cap.

Under the cap there are two screws on each rail end, screwed into the plate on top of the upright.

Doubt there is much difference between pools

Try getting one rail off, and see how it goes.

But grab the Liquid Wrench, just in case !!