Try to avoid doing this job in windy weather to reduce the mess. Scraping, sanding, and priming is a long process. Start early in the morning and plan on working all day. The process may take into a second day, depending on how large the fence is.
Also cover all of your exposed skin with long sleeves and pants to prevent irritations from paint shards. All the necessary protective gear is available at hardware stores or online. If you order from the internet, make sure you can return the items if they don’t fit.
Don’t miss any spots. Scrub all the spots you can reach with the scraper before moving on. This step only removes flaking rust and metal, it doesn’t smooth out the iron surface. Don’t worry if the iron is still rough after scraping it. You can also use a power washer to remove any loose rust or dirt. [4] X Expert Source Andres MatheuCommercial Painter Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.
Don’t miss any spots. Any paint or rust you leave behind will damage your new coat of paint. Be thorough and reach every spot with the brush. If there are still tough rust spots that won’t come off, try using a powered grinder to remove them. This uses a spinning stone to grind away rust. Wear gloves and goggles if you use this tool, and hold it against any rusty spots until they’re smooth. You can buy or rent a powered grinder from a hardware store.
Remember to get into any grooves and curved areas. Don’t miss any spots. Don’t remove your protective gear when you sand. The dust can still irritate your eyes and skin. Sanding is a time-consuming process. Be patient and don’t rush.
Mineral spirits are a relatively safe solvent, but they can still irritate your skin. Wear gloves and if you get any on your skin, flush the area under running water for 5 minutes. [9] X Research source Mineral spirits are available at most hardware stores. Don’t clean the iron with water. This will cause rust.
A roll-on primer is applied with a brush or roller like paint. This is more time-consuming, but it’s easier to control and avoids making a mess. Spray primer works the same way as spray paint and is faster to work with. Make sure you cover everything in the area with a sheet to avoid getting primer on it and don’t work if it’s windy. Ask a hardware store employee for help if you can’t find primers designed for metal.
Roll back and forth a few times to make sure each spot is covered with primer. Don’t miss any spots. Touch up areas the roller won’t fit into with a brush.
Don’t hover the can in one spot or the primer could pool and drip. Wear goggles and a dust mask while using spray primer. Place extra sheets around to prevent primer from getting on your grass, porch, or house. Stop working if the wind picks up. If you feel dizzy or faint while spraying the primer, stop right away.
Tap the fence gently with your finger to monitor how dry the primer is. If it still feels sticky, it’s not dry enough. Start painting once the primer is dry for the best coat of paint.
