refinishing an old iron bed frame?

Question

should I use steel wool or sand paper to sand with before painting? Also should I use coarse or fine grain?

Answer 1

We refinished 3 iron frame beds for our kids and used steel wool. We started with a medium grade and worked our way up to 000 fine.

The trick with refinishing the iron is that it has to be absolutely smooth to the touch before you can begin painting it. While it's not necessary to get all the old paint off, there can't be the least bit of a ridge or it will show beneath the new paint.

Answer 2

wire brush the rust and flaking paint. The paint is peeling because it is not sticking because someone did not clean it before they tossed on the paint. Depends what you want to do with it. If it only gonna be something temporary because you are looking for something in wood or something else, you don't want to waste a ton of time on it -especially if it is nothing more than iron pipe. For those cast iron ones, get it sandblasted clean and primed. Sure you can spray paint on a finish, but there are no smooth surfaces, so what is the difference. A brush works just as well. And the paint from a brush is much more protective than out of a spray bomb.

Answer 3

Sand blaster is definately the way to go, you can use steel wool or sand paper but they are more labor intensive.

Answer 4

You can rent a small portable sand blaster for about 20.00 a day..you will have to buy the silicATE SAND but it will take it to bear metal..dust off, I would blow off with a compressor..apply a metal primer, let dry, sand, and apply two finish coats, sanded inbetween coats..this will last forever and not peel...here is what they look like..make sure if rented to see if the compressor comes with it..or borrow a compressor from someone..

Answer 5

lightly sand with 200 grit