I taped, scuffed, wiped down, drank beer, 2 coats of Rust-Oleum professional Primer (rattler), drank beer, 2 coats of Rust-Oleum Truck Bed Coating (rattler). 12k mi later and no chips at all... I swear that it is tougher than my powder coating. Someday I'll go back and paint between the flare...