Synthetic line fairleads in COLOR...

[JTenn]

Yes, I'm kind of theming my Jeep, going black with red accents, and I'm looking for a hawse fairlead in red. I've poked on Extreme Terrain, I've poked on Quadratec, and all the ones in red are either out of stock, or don't exist...

Frankly, I'm contemplating just getting a raw aluminum hawse fairlead and taking it to a shop that does type III anodizing and can do colors. See if I can get a deal where they add it to an existing run of red items rather than doing a one-off.

So, does anyone have suggestions on where I might be able to find a red hawse fairlead?

I powder coated mine. I believe the reason they're usually sold raw is due to the fact that if you use the winch at all it will immediately strip any color where the winch line drags across the surface. I can tell you from experience, the anodized ones will be faded and ugly in a month. Had a red one on my wife's JT that was pink within a month. I'm sure it was a really crappy anodizing job but I don't think anodizing is made to withstand the elements. Maybe a coat of clear coat would help.

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[JAsh1967]

I powder coated mine. I believe the reason they're usually sold raw is due to the fact that if you use the winch at all it will immediately strip any color where the winch line drags across the surface. I can tell you from experience, the anodized ones will be faded and ugly in a month. Had a red one on my wife's JT that was pink within a month. I'm sure it was a really crappy anodizing job but I don't think anodizing is made to withstand the elements. Maybe a coat of clear coat would help.

That leads me to wonder if the anodizing done isn't a Type III (hardcoat) anodize. The lower types of anodizing create / add thinner layers of the anodize material / color and would be more prone to fading.

Might also explain why all the fairleads that ARE listed as Type III anodized are grey (it's the color the aluminum will come out if no tint / color is added to the process.)

I'm thinking maybe for the short term, I'll take the Badlands fairlead off and even though it'll scuff off quick, paint it with a "red that's supposed to look like it's an anodized part" spray I bought a couple years ago for another project. At least to see if I like how it looks with a red fairlead.

 

[JTenn]

That leads me to wonder if the anodizing done isn't a Type III (hardcoat) anodize. The lower types of anodizing create / add thinner layers of the anodize material / color and would be more prone to fading.

Might also explain why all the fairleads that ARE listed as Type III anodized are grey (it's the color the aluminum will come out if no tint / color is added to the process.)

I'm thinking maybe for the short term, I'll take the Badlands fairlead off and even though it'll scuff off quick, paint it with a "red that's supposed to look like it's an anodized part" spray I bought a couple years ago for another project. At least to see if I like how it looks with a red fairlead.

At least with paint a touch up could be done quickly. I have used my winch quite a bit so the areas around the opening have some powder coating rubbed off. I honestly don't even notice it.

 

[RK Racing]

Don't encourage 'em..........

In with da NEW…..Out with da old.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That leads me to wonder if the anodizing done isn't a Type III (hardcoat) anodize. The lower types of anodizing create / add thinner layers of the anodize material / color and would be more prone to fading.

Might also explain why all the fairleads that ARE listed as Type III anodized are grey (it's the color the aluminum will come out if no tint / color is added to the process.)

I'm thinking maybe for the short term, I'll take the Badlands fairlead off and even though it'll scuff off quick, paint it with a "red that's supposed to look like it's an anodized part" spray I bought a couple years ago for another project. At least to see if I like how it looks with a red fairlead.

Come on - this stuff comes from China. Same people who sell the other stuff cheap - bumpers and so on. All of their finishes are, well, leave a lot to be desired. It's got color, good enough, ship it.
The bumpers on Eagle, Spirit, Concord and a host of other cars by other companies way back when were aluminum - anodized. I have several stowed in a rack by my shop - finish still good (although it's CLEAR, not colored.

I use a translucent green and red spray paints from O'Reilly's (likely Duplicolor) that closely match the original finishes used on the alternator stators of the 60s and 70s. Looks great - remove all rust and such, a couple of light coats, looks like the factory lacquer used on laminations back then.

I've used translucent powder to do parts for my wife's quilting machine years ago before she got her CNC equipment. I used a translucent raspberry - looked really cool, almost anodized.

 

[JAsh1967]

So a small advantage to being local to Maximus-3?

Discount for driving over to their shop to make the purchase.

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