Refinishing iron and steel that has rust or deteriorated paint is a multistep process of cleaning, priming and painting. Time and labor can be saved, and a long-lasting job done, if tools and refinishing products are carefully selected.
A well-planned approach is especially important for outdoor projects with many small, convoluted surfaces, such as wrought-iron railings, fences, playground equipment and some outdoor furniture.Preparation, including removal of loose paint and rust, is extremely important when refinishing ferrous, or iron-containing, metals.
A hand scraper, a wad of emery cloth or a wire brush is adequate for paint-rust removal in small projects, but larger structures can often be cleaned much faster with power equipment, such as a sandblaster or a drill equipped with a wire-brush wheel.
Also fine for removing loose paint and corrosion from some convoluted surfaces are flexible hand-held abrasive pads.
A special primer, such as Rust-Oleum's Rusty Metal Primer, is a big time saver. Applying a coat of this primer, which contains inhibitors to help prevent development of more rust, makes it possible to paint over surfaces that contain rust.