The hinges and other hardware for my trailer doors are rusting - again.
A few years ago I removed all of the hardware from my trailer doors (hinges, lock hasp, cam keepers, bar retainers, etc) and removed all the old finish and rust with a wire wheel on my bench grinder.
I then dipped all of the parts in a clear finish that was supposedly made to prevent rust. I'm pretty sure that the product was recommended in this group, but I don't have any left so I can't tell you the name. What I do know is that it didn't really last very long. When the parts were first coated, they looked great, but less than a year later the finish began to peel off and the parts started to rust again. Now, 3 years later the finish is cracked, crumbling and peeling.
The finish was like a thick coat of polyurethane, but I know it wasn't just polyurethane, it was something specifically made for coating metal that was exposed to the elements. When it was first applied, the bright, shiny metal showed through but today the parts are black where the finish hasn't peeled off and rusty where it has.
So, short of replacing ~$100 worth of door hardware, what are my options for refinishing what I have? If I clean all of the parts again is there something that will prevent rust for a significant number of years? I considered spray paint, but I'm not sure how that would look. It's certainly not going to look like real metal.
Suggestions welcome. Thanks!