8 Things You Must Know Before You Paint Metal

Ready to repaint your metal furniture but not sure how to begin? Make sure the metal is in as good a condition it can be before you repaint. Here are some tips for removing rust and other marks:

1. You don’t want to  paint over too much rust. If your metal paint project has rust, scrub it with a wire brush on the larger areas, and then sand off the remaining rust with sand paper. Tip from DIY Network. If you need a little extra help removing the lighter rust you can use acids found in your pantry (vinegar, lemon juice, cola).

2. There may be places where that rust just won’t come off. If you have this problem, coat with a spray-on primer that turns rust into a paintable surface (product: Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer). Image from Amazon.

3. Once you have removed all of the rust and you’re ready to paint, prep the metal with a RUST-INHIBITIVE PRIMER. This will help prevent future rust from appearing on your newly painted project. Image from Rust-Oleum.

4. To remove grease and oil, use a scouring or sanding pad. Remove sticker and tape goo the same way but with a solvent. Image from Amazon.

5. If you want to remove a lighter paint job but don’t want to ruin the metal underneath, try using paint remover. Image from Klean Strip.

6. Before you begin painting (after removing rust and other rough edges), you want to make sure that you clean the metal thoroughly. Just fill a bucket with soapy water and use a wash cloth, or vinegar works great as well. This will make sure you have removed all excess residue before the paint goes on. Idea from Painted Furniture Ideas.

7. After you apply the primer, lightly sand over any rough spots that may have occurred from too much primer in one place, and then add a second thin coat of primer. Idea from In My Own Style.

8. You need to know the type of metal you are painting before beginning. Each metal will be a little different and you want to ensure that your project looks the best that it can. Red Beacon gives us tips for painting different kinds of metal. Image from Bubbly Creations.