Wrought iron furniture is often intricately detailed.
Wrought iron bed frames lend a classic, old world look and feel to a room. Furniture made from this distinctive ironwork can often be found at yard sales and antique shops as well as traditional furniture stores. Wrought iron is traditionally coated with black paint but it can be refinished if a different color is desired or if the finish has become damaged, rusted or dull from ordinary wear and tear.
Instructions
1. Put on protective gloves.
2. Scrape away any loose or flaking paint and rust with a stiff wire brush.
3. Lightly sand the entire bed frame with aluminum oxide sandpaper. Roughening up the metal slightly helps the primer and paint to grip the surface, resulting in a more professional finish.
4. Dip a soft cloth into the mineral spirits. Wipe the entire wrought iron bed frame with mineral spirits to remove sandpaper particles, dust, grime and oils. Wait for the bed frame to completely dry before proceeding to the next step.
5. Apply at least two coats of alkyd primer for metal. Previously painted wrought iron does not necessarily need to be primed, but primer helps paint to bond better with the metal. Several thinner coats provide better results than one thick coat of primer. Primer also prevents old color from bleeding through if the piece is being repainted in a lighter color.
6. Paint the bed frame with at least two coats of oil-based paint. Oil-based paint generally takes longer to dry than latex. Read the label for approximate drying time before using the bed frame.
Tips Warnings
Use a paintbrush instead of a roller when painting intricately detailed wrought iron.
Antique wrought iron furniture may be painted with lead-based paint. Consider having a paint chip tested by a professional. If lead is found in the paint, consult the professional before scraping and sanding the furniture. Inhaling lead dust is hazardous to health.
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