How to Paint an Enamel Bed Frame

Removing the Old Enamel

• 1

  Lay a dropcloth in a well-ventilated work space like a garage or empty room. The dropcloth should be plastic so no paint or stripper soaks through to the floor. Set the bed frame atop the sheet.

• 2

  Apply paint stripper to the frame. Paint stripper comes in numerous varieties, but lacquers or acetone work best to remove enamel paint. Consult the manufacturer's instructions on the can and paint the stripper on the bed frame, thoroughly covering every area of wood. Let stripper eat away at the enamel paint for 15 to 20 minutes. The more layers of enamel paint, the longer the stripping time.

• 3

  Remove the top layer of enamel with a paint scraper. You may see a second layer of enamel beneath the top layer if the frame was painted more than once. Apply more paint stripper and scrape away at paint until you see the frame's bare metal surface.

• 4

  Wipe away any remaining traces of enamel paint with steel wool, which is abrasive and can strip away paint you may have missed with the scraper. Also use steel wool to remove paint from crevices.

• 5

  Dry the frame with rags after removing all the paint. Let the bed frame air dry for 24 hours.

Painting the Frame

• 6

  Sand down the bed frame with fine-grit sandpaper to remove dirt, grime or oily residues. Wash the frame with dish soap and warm water to remove all traces of dirt. Dry thoroughly with rags. The frame must be clean before painting, or the paint won't properly adhere to the metal.

• 7

  Apply a thin coat of primer to the bed frame so the paint can adhere. This Old House recommends using a disposable bristle brush or "chip" brush to cover the bed frame. Some metal spray paints don't require the use of primer, so check your specific paint's instructions before using primer.

• 8

  Apply paint by holding the spray can about 6 inches from the frame. Use long, sweeping strokes to achieve an even finish. Allow the paint to dry for up to four hours between coats. Use a minimum of two coats and let the final coat dry for 24 hours before applying clear coat.

• 9

  Spray on a layer of clear coat in the same manner as the paint. The clear coat is transparent paint that protects the primary paint job and gives a glossy sheen. Allow the clear coat to dry for 24 hours.