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Here’s How To Paint Over Rust
Sam Lutz • July 12, 2016
Rust can start off as a small problem, but it doesn’t take long for it to spread. Iron that isn’t properly protected will rust relatively quickly.
Conventional wisdom states that you should only paint a rusty metal object after the rust is removed. However, there are some methods that enable the rust to be painted over without being removed. For a project like this, we recommend Rust Reformer, a great product that converts rust to an inert substance that can then be primed and painted.
In this tutorial, we’ll talk about the best ways to paint over rust, and we’ll go over the conventional method of removing rust before painting.
Painting Over Rust
- Take the rusty item and place it somewhere that’s well ventilated. Place the item on a tarp to protect the ground or floor around it. Move anything in the vicinity that you don’t want to be painted.
- Scrub down the rusty item with a wire brush to remove any flakes of rust. The metal will be scratched when you’re finished, and some of the metal may still be rusty, but the flakes of rust will be gone. If there are still flakes of rust on the item, keep scrubbing.
- Clean the item with a powerful degreaser and a rag. Do this until the item is completely clean.
- Allow the metal item to dry completely.
- Spray the item with a thin layer of spray primer formulated for use on metal. Cover the item completely. Allow the primer to dry.
- Repeat step 5 two more times, until your piece of metal has three coats of primer on it.
- Spray the item with a thin layer of spray paint formulated for use on metal. Cover the item completely and allow the paint to dry.
- Repeat step 7.
Once the metal object is covered in two layers of spray paint, it should be well protected. Note that this only works if the rust has not progressed enough to weaken the metal. If the rust goes all the way through the metal, or if the metal is now easy to bend because of the rust, the item is too damaged and should be replaced.
Procedure for Removing Rust
The more traditional method for painting rusty metal is to remove the rust altogether. Removing the rust enables you to use fewer coats of paint, because the metal needs comparatively less protection from moisture. Follow the procedure below:
- Scrub down the rusty item with a wire brush attached to a Dremel tool. Do this until the rust is gone and the metal is shiny.
- Clean the item with a degreaser and a rag. Do this until the item is completely clean.
- Allow the metal item to dry completely.
- Spray the item with a thin layer of spray primer formulated for use on metal. Cover the item completely. Allow the primer to dry.
- Repeat step 4.
- Spray the item with a thin layer of spray paint formulated for use on metal. Cover the item completely and allow the paint to dry.
- Repeat step 6.
Buy Your Paint Supplies at Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture
At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture, we sell paint supplies
like spray paint formulated for use on metal. To get your project started, stop in at one of our stores. We’ll be happy to get you all the materials you need, from tarps to spray paint. We look forward to seeing you!
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