Need someone with experience on repainting a 15yo wrought iron patio set that is rusty?

Question

Essentially I bought a patio set from soneone that is around 15 yo. It was taken car of quite well and no metal is bent but it is rusting underneath the table ledge and the umbrella hole. The black paint looks dull and sunbleached as well. I don't believe it's ever been refinished. I want to remove all the rust and repaint the entire thing. I want to know details in the steps required. I was told by many people to use Naval Jelly or a rust converter to remove the rust. That is easier then sanding because you can get into all the corners. I want to use a rustoleum black glass paint. Do I have to sand all the paint off to bare metal? I want to use a roller on the table should I use a foam roler? Is Spray the paint better? Also I want to do the chairs but how will I get the paint off all those little corners and rods? Should I use a stripper? I heard strippers are messy? Should I prime as well? What applicator should I use for the chairs considering how detailed they are?

Answer 1

I have had this same situation. I found someone that could 'sand blast' the set... it sands off all the rust and old paint... you pay a little to have it done, but in the long run, you will be much happier with how it turns out!

I got the rustoleum paint (white tho) and sprayed on the paint... it takes a few light coats if you go with the spray.

if you use paint on paint instead, I would use a foam brush or roller. you can use a regular brush to get in all the corners. the spray paint will get in all the bits and corners and such better tho... you COULD use some of each... using the spray for the tough areas and finishing up the bigger areas with your brush/roller.

I would stay away from the stripping agents, as it is a horrible mess (been there done that too!)

Answer 2

a good scrubbing with a wire brush, or better yet, buy a wire wheel for your drill (safety glasses are a must) make sure that all loose particles are scraped off. then either use an exterior primer or a rust converter and then paint. spray paint is best for fine details, and several thin coats are better than one thick coat, to preserve the details. avoid water based finishes, they will encourage more rust. and finally, traditional wrought iron finish is flat black, but i suppose you can use whatever you prefer.

Answer 3

Just sand it down the best you can - I wouldn't worry about the corners - just get the flaking stuff off - I would use a spray primer then a rustoleum spray - both worked well when I did my furniture - you can use a roller for the table top for the first coat if you want then finish with a spray coat for consistency.

Answer 4

My husband did the same thing last year. First he moved the table into the yard. He purchased a wire sanding devise that connected to his drill. He sanded the whole piece down. He did not remove all the old paint, but did sand it all.Then he spray painted a primer and gave it 24 hours to dry. Next he spray painted several layers of color paint, allowing each layer plenty of drying time. It is a tedious job but not difficult. Wear the worst clothes you have. My husband ended up with multi color skin and clothes.

Answer 5

buy a wire brush, it will gett all the rust off and most of the flaked paint, if you want to do it really good by a grinder and a wire brush it'll bring it down to bare metal in not time and won't scratch the metal because the wires on the wire brush is softer then the iron. then paint it with rustoleom either gloss or flat but I prefure flat because it won't blind you in the sunlight.