How to Paint Rusty Iron

When iron goes through the oxidation process, it can rust over time. Before you can paint rusty iron, you first have to strip the rust from the iron surface. The process of removing the rust from the surface depends on how big of a surface you are painting. For example, if you are painting an iron fence that runs around your entire property, sandblasting is the best way to remove the rust. If it is a smaller area or object, then you can use sandpaper to sand the item by hand.

Sand paper
Sandblaster (optional)
Water
Water hose (optional)
Bucket or sink
Dish soap or degreasing detergent
Rust-free primer
Paint
Paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the rust from the iron surface. Sand down or sandblast the iron material until all of the rust flakes and debris are gone from the surface. The rust color may still appear on the surface, but you can wipe this off with a cloth. If it does not wipe away, then continue to sand or sandblast the iron until all of the rust is removed.
- 2
  Wash the iron surface with water and soap to remove any grease, dirt or other debris from the surface. A dish soap or detergent with a degreasing agent works best to remove any oil or grease residue. Rinse the soap off the surface completely with water.
- 3
  Dry the area off with a cloth or allow the iron piece to air dry.
- 4
  Spray the iron with a primer with a rust-preventive substance. This helps to prevent the iron from becoming oxidized and rusting in the future.
- 5
  Allow the primer to dry completely.
- 6
  Paint the iron material with the paint color of your choice. You should paint the item by hand in order to fully coat the iron. Add one or two coats of paint to the iron surface, according to the directions on the paint can.

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Painting