The savings climb even more when painting larger or more decorative metal pieces. Compared to the cost of scrapping the item and buying it new (which might start at $25 for a barebones metal end table), you’re looking at a savings of at least $17 for a minor project alone. Add up the costs of a 12-ounce spray can of rust conversion primer and a 12-ounce can of metal paint that each cover around 15 square feet, and you’ll find that painting the rusty surface of a small metal piece such as an end table runs you as little as $8. Painting rusty metal items versus replacing them is a win for your wallet.

You can save lots of money painting rusted metal pieces rather than replacing them. Apply one to three coats of the appropriate primer to the metal surface, letting each coat dry to the touch before applying the next, then drying the final coat fully for the recommended amount of time. You want to apply the primer as soon as possible after wire brushing and cleaning it since the metal will otherwise continue to rust with exposure to oxygen. The primer will penetrate the rust and bond with the underlying metal. no rust remained after wire brushing it), then paint it with a water- or oil-based interior-exterior rust-preventative metal primer (available for $4 to $8 per 12 to 15 ounces in spray or standard cans from brands like Rust-Oleum via The Home Depot).

If painting over lightly rusted or bare metal (i.e.This coating will chemically convert the rust into a flat, usually black, non-rustable surface that’s ready to receive paint. If painting over extensive rust, prime it with a water- or oil-based interior-exterior rust conversion metal primer (available for around $4 to $17 per 10 to 13 ounces in spray or standard cans from brands like Rust-Oleum and Gempler’s via The Home Depot and Amazon, respectively).A primer specific to your amount of rust will help aid adhesion. Good news: You can cover up either! But paint alone doesn’t adhere as well to rust-even light rust-and when it does stick, rust stains can bleed through the paint coat and discolor it. With the loose rust gone, your metal may either show extensive surface rust or little to no rust. Otherwise, the metal will continue to shed the loose rust, pushing the dried paint coat upward until it blisters or peels off. You’ll face blistering and peeling paint if you don’t remove loose rust first.Ī primer can help paint adhere to a rusted metal piece, but you still must first remove as much loose rust as possible from the surface first. Filling the pits with an auto body filler product (like Bondo, available from Amazon) would be your best option for restoring it, or else you’ll need to replace the metal piece altogether. pits or holes are visible in the piece) or the piece has structurally weakened to the point that you can bend it by hand, then paint won’t halt the corrosion and inevitable crumbling of the metal. If rust has partially or fully eaten through the metal (i.e. Painting rusted metal is not only possible but can produce beautiful results-as long as the rust doesn’t extend beyond the surface of the metal piece.

Stick to painting metals with strictly surface rust. When it comes to painting rusted metal, proper preparation is key. Read about them below before going to the rescue of your rusted possessions with paint. But painting rust shouldn’t begin without first understanding the scope, benefits, and limitations of the project. Paint offers one way to spare these rusted pieces from the junkyard and restore their looks while lending them a pop of color. Any metal made of iron or alloys containing iron, such as steel, will rust with enough exposure to oxygen and moisture. But the strong material has an Achilles heel: rust. Elegant and durable, metal makes an appearance on furnishings and decor in and out of the house, from entryway benches to patio chairs and fence posts.

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