On Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:34:01 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Geo wrote:

snip
The problem with painting them is getting a decent
surface to start with. Removing the old flaky paint with sandpaper (above my
head) did not a brilliant idea so minimal preparation with sugarsoap. The "new"
paint has only lasted a few years and is flaking off again.

Wonder what paint you used. Did you wire brush it first?

Did some fairly gentle wire brushing (by hand) on the worst bits but did not
want to start scoring the surface. Bog standard white gloss (oil-based).

--
Geo