I've never dipped or Ceracoted, but have used shake and spray Rustoleum effectively which surprisingly has held up over several seasons. However, if you are looking for something more durable than dipping and is a diy coating, Duracoat makes a two-part paint that now comes in a "shake and spray" kit that is easily applied without the need for a compressor and air brush. I haven't used it on wood surfaces, but I understand that it is a flexible coating which would make it ideal on wood if the wood gets dinged.