Use spray paint to cover small details in the bed frame.
Collectors and those who frequent yard sales consider antique beds a prize find at most garage sales and flea markets. Prior to World War I, American-made iron beds we among the finest beds in the world. Due to their quality construction, it's not hard to restore even a rusted bed to create a beautiful place to lay your head. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove rust and flaking paint using a steel-bristled wire brush and 80-grit sandpaper. Before you paint an antique bed, you will have to remove all of the rust. Paint will not adhere to rust, so remove and neutralize the rust before painting.
2. Wipe the surface of the antique bed with mineral spirits and apply phosphoric acid to any missed or unreachable rust on the antique bed. This will convert the rust to a ferric-phosphate coating easy to scrub for removal. The acid will take a day to penetrate the rust.
3. Clean the bed frame thoroughly and remove any traces of acid or flaked material. Wipe it down with a rag and verify it is completely dry and all rust flakes have been removed before proceeding.
4. Apply a coat of oil-based primer to the bed frame and allow to dry fully. Verify the paint is appropriate for the metal of your bed.
5. Apply a finish coat using an oil-based metal-paint. Paint the entire antique bed frame from the top to the bottom. Completely paint each bar before moving on to the next. Use spray paint to reach the small crevices of scroll work and details. Antique beds were traditionally available in white or black if you want to restore the bed to its original condition. It has become trendy to paint the beds in bright, non-traditional colors such as turquoise, pink or yellow for a shabby-chic look.
Tags: spray paint
