"J Kelly" wrote in message
...
The wrought iron railing on my front steps and porch is getting pretty
rusty and has some paint chipped off. What is the best way to repaint
this? Should I attempt to remove all the old paint, or just get the
loose stuff off and clean up the rusty spots? This is about 30 feet
of railing, so wire brushing the whole thing would take ages. Also,
what type of paint should I use? Rustoleum spray? Or is there
something better. I don't want to repeat this project in a few years,
looking for a permanent solution. The railing has been removed from
the porch to repair the concrete so I can work on it a bit before it
gets reinstalled if that makes any difference on how I should proceed.

Thanks



Take an ice pick or small screwdriver and press where the rust is. See if
it goes through. If it does, you got other problems. If it doesn't, the
iron is sound, and the paint needs redoing.

More than 50% of a good paintjob is preparation. The nicer and cleaner you
get it, the better the paint sticks. Perhaps you might have someone in your
circle of friends who does handywork and has an electric wire brush that
could touch it up.

If not, you could get one for your drill and do it yourself. I do not
suggest you get a grinder with a wire brush and try it unless you have a lot
of experience with them. They can chew you up faster than a couple of
chipmanzees.

Rustoleum makes good paint. I would get some of those 2 or 3" rollers and
just put it on thick. Spraying will look nicer, but if you put the paint on
thick with a roller, the characteristic look is almost textured. The
thicker it is, the longer it will last.

Just get the rust. The paint that is sticking is a good thing, and it has
that surface sealed. You will just be adding a new coat of color to it.
Pay attention to any decayed spots, or places where square tube has filled
with water and frozen, causing it to split. These should be replaced, as
should anything that is rusted through. It can be replaced in small
sections unless the whole bar is rusted.

A few days ago, I did a neighbor's double gate. Each section 83" wide.
Each having a double rows of "dog bars" on the lower bar. Both bars were
rusted through and through from sprinklers for the last twenty years. But,
sometimes, you can just replace one bar, or one short piece in a bar, and
make an acceptable repair without tossing the whole thing.

Don't futz around with spray cans. You won't get a lot of paint on it
before it runs. A regular sprayer is fine, just do two coats if sprayed.
If it was me, I would roll it heavy.

All of this sounds like work, and it is.

Do it once. Do it right.

Steve (former contractor for awnings and ornamental metal in the State of
Nevada)