Picked up an old hydrant from the city for use as a landscape item in my backyard. I've stripped it (using "citrus strip" which worked really well). The strip took off probably 95% of the paint. Took my wire grinder to it to remove what I am guessing was left of the primer. Got caps and the top to clean bare metal. The barrel has probably 98% bare metal, but there is still areas that have at most one light dusting of probably primer in the unevenness. I stopped because there are some area where my grinder can't access so I knew I'd have to get some of it blasted. So my question is, how clean does the metal need to be to powder coat? Pure bare metal? Except for the few inaccessible areas the only thing left on it is some of the red "dusting" in the little bumps. Also, if anyone has done any media blasting did I waste my time by removing what I could and then having someone do the finish blasting? i.e. will they spend the same amount of time going over the surface area whether there was paint there or not? I would think they would be able to go faster but I'm not in the biz.

Before painting my 25 year old deck railing, I would like to caulk the joints in the attached picture to give it a seamless look. Joints are about 1/8". I was thinking of using Alex Plus, Big Stretch or one that you would recommend. Thanks for your help.