Some of the smartest-looking homes are adorned with sleek wrought iron furniture and fixtures. But these are known to rust if exposed to moisture. Whether you want to repaint old wrought iron fixtures or paint new ones for the first time, the process remains more or less the same. Does this Spark an idea?
Removing Existing Coating
Before you paint any wrought iron item, you should carefully remove any scraps of old paint or flaky rust. There are a variety of ways in which you can do this. Sandblasting, during which abrasive sand is blasted onto the wrought iron surface through a nozzle by highly pressurized compressed air, is the easiest to do. It is also the least time-consuming. Using a hand brush or a wire wheel brush with a drill can help remove the rust and paint too. If these processes are not enough, you should do the needful removal by hand, with sandpaper. Instead of a mechanical device, eradicate rust by using water-based, nonflammable, rust-converting chemical solvents. These solvents, which create a rust-preventive layer for the iron, dissolve the existing rust. No matter which method you employ, reach all the corners and crevices, and remove every possible piece of rust or paint matter.
Cleaning the Surface
Once the rust is removed, the next step in painting preparation is cleaning the surface. As paint will never bind well with dirty surfaces, remove every scrap or remnant of grease or dirt. Thorough washing with a powerful soap, and in some cases, rubbing hard with a cloth moistened with paint thinner will do. After the cleaning process, allow sufficient time for the wrought iron fixture to dry.
Applying Primer
To add primer on to the surface of the wrought iron item, choose any metal primer, available as liquid, which you can paint on the fixture with a brush. You could opt to spray this primer in case your wrought iron item has subtle nooks and details. Choose a color of primer closest to the shade you want for your finished item. The primer will generally contain a formula that will offer protection against rust. Once the primer is dry, it will be easy for the paint to bind with the surface and stay that way, without peeling off, for a long time.
Painting
Earlier, your primary choice would have been solvent-based paints, but these days, good quality water-based paints are also easy to come by. These do not smell much, come with rust-preventing chemicals in their makeup and can be cleaned up easily in case of a mess. These are also beneficial in the way that they blend in with any unseen, unnoticed, ensnared moisture, make it rise to the surface of the iron, replace it with rust-preventive substance and seal it off, averting further rusting. Use a spray or brush to apply such paint, once or twice, depending on how deep you want the color to be. Leave the painted wrought iron fixture to dry before using it.
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