painting old basketball pole

[parnelli]

This weekend's project is to paint a basketball pole out by the garage. It's maybe 20 years old and had been spraypainted a few times by previous owners but was peeling and rusting badly.

I've taken a wire wheel to it and have gotten it pretty much down to bare metal. There are some spots with visable pitting and a bit of rust in the pits.

Ideas on what's my best do-it-the-right-way to get this thing painted?

Oil, spray, brush- I really just want to do it the best way to keep it from looking bad every year.

[siliconbauhaus]

If you can find Hammerite paint its the best thing to use. Brush it on and be done with it.

[Daryl]

I would just get one of those painting mitts and wipe the paint on.

[Uncle Cracker]

Even if you're using a one-step paint, it never hurts to put a coat of rust-inhibiting primer under it first. Also, if the pits bother you, you can fill them with nitro-stan and sand with wet paper before you paint.

[cabinetman]

You should get all the rust off first. You could just put a coat of naval jelly on it, let it do its thing. Clean off the pole, and then pick up a spray can or two of Rustoleum in your favorite color.

[siliconbauhaus]

thats why I suggested hammerite....it goes straight over the rust

[Hellrazor]

POR paint... like you use on vehicle frames.