I want to refinish a rusty iron bedframe. Is sandpaper the best way to clean the surface for painting?

Answer 1

Yes - also you should use some kind of rust remover. Go to your local hardware store and ask for help with this one. I did this myself a long time ago; I used sandpaper and something to keep the frame from rusting more, and it turned out very well. Good luck!

Answer 2

If you have access to a power drill, buy yourself a wire brush attachment -- better yet, get two: one wheel-shaped and one cup-shaped.

WEAR GOGGLES, then use the wire brush to get all the loose scale and rust off the surface. When it's shiny and silver-grey, you're ready. Spray it down with brake cleaning solvent (available at any auto-parts store; it evaporates completely and leaves no residue behind), wipe it clean, and then let it sit overnight before priming it with rust-preventative paint (Rustoleum red fish-oil based primer is one I've used before). Then give it a coat of whatever color you want.

We did this with the long sections of our 15-year-old daughter's antique bed when we made over her room last year -- the headboard and footboard are wood but the two long pieces that run down the sides are iron. She did a lot of the work herself, and picked a very nice "hammered bronze" finish for the iron sections when we were done. They look terrific against the antique oak head- and footboards; the "hammered" paint gives it a pebbly, antique look and some visual interest.

Now, if it's all iron and you know it, the BEST thing to do is have it "dipped" or "hot-tanked." Go to your yellow pages and look for shops that do "metal stripping" (I know, it sounds like something a lonely robot would go to see :-). They will dip your bedframe in a caustic solution that dissolves ALL the old paint, rust, and anything else stuck to it. It'll come back as clean, solid metal, ready for any finish you want to apply.

Just make sure it's really iron and that it's ALL iron -- dipping aluminum (as well as brass or bronze) parts will dissolve them. (We learned this the hard way on a friend's project car; who knew it had aluminum door hinges?)

Answer 3

Hi, yes a good rust remover is good, but instead of sandpaper, get a good STEEL brush and go over the spots several times. Make sure you wear a good mask to prevent you from inhaling the dust, and don't forget to get safely glasses, you can get them at a good hardware store. And if you have a good portable steamer, you can rent them at a TAYLOR RENTAL or a place like that, and be sure to do that after taking all of the rust off. This will clean the posts, etc. Hope this helps

Answer 4

if it is rusty and you want to clean it mix salt and vinegar, paint it on the rust will come of and give it a good rinse, if you want to remove old paint just buy paint stripper. Sand paper would help to make the surface smooth, but also advisable to add a good undercoat of iron oxide paint.

Answer 5

you could use sandpaper or steel wool. Both should do the trick. After you have scrubbed everywhere with whatever you choose, be sure to then wipe down the whole thing with mineral spirits(naphtha) or alcohol to make sure all excess particles have been removed for your paint to cover to the best of it's ability.

Answer 6

Me too. My handyman used a wire brush and he says it works better than sandpaper. Then he wiped it down, primed it and painted it. Looks great!

Answer 7

Wire brush it and then use Naval Jelly or similar product to turn the rust into a coating. Then use Rustoleum.

Answer 8

First you should use Brillo pads with gloves.
Then it depends of what kind of finish you want:
For a natural finish us glycerin.
otherwise choose an oil based paint.

Answer 9

the best way is to sand blast it so it wouldnt be rough done it to mine not too long ago my porch railing

Answer 10

sand blast, then paint with a rust converting primer then your color coat.