How to Paint Over Rusted Metal

|

How to paint over rusted metal

How to paint over rusted metal

How to paint over rusted metal

Time for some Lovely Indeed trivia! Anybody recognize this vintage postal scale? It might be tough to recognize with its new paint job in this gorgeous jade color, but in its past life the scale was part of our wedding! I found it at an estate sale and we used it in the candy buffet at our wedding reception. It’s been hidden away in storage since then and admittedly gathered a fair amount of dust and rust. I wanted to take it out to display but was bummed to find it in less-than-stellar shape, so I got rid of the rust and gave it a splash of color all at once.

Materials

Make Time: 1 Hour (Plus Drying Time)

How to paint over rusted metal

Step 1: Prep your metal. Clean off any dust and debris. Give any rusty spots a light sanding with fine sandpaper.

Step 2: Mask any areas that you don’t want painted with painter’s tape.

Step 3: Spray evenly with a coat of the Stops Rust Rusty Metal Primer. This will stop rust in its tracks and prevent it from eventually coming through the paint.

Step 4: Allow to dry and spray evenly with a coat of the Stops Rust spray paint. We recommend light, even coats, sprayed at approximately 8 inches away from your metal surface. Allow the paint to dry and repeat with additional coats until you reach your desired coverage.

Yay! I’m so glad to give this old piece a new life. I love having special pieces like this one on display in our home, and I love it even more when we can freshen them up with a new look. It’s amazing what a coat of paint can do! If you have an old piece that needs an update, test out the Rust-Oleum Stops Rust and I think you’ll love it! (They’ve also got some really great new metallic finishes that are calling my name…) Show off your work on Instagram or Twitter and caption it with #inwiththeold and #stopsrust for a chance to win new colors and finishes for your next project plus a $100 gift card to the Rust-Oleum retailer of your choice. See stopsrust.com for rules. Happy making! xoxo

This post is sponsored by Rust-Oleum. All ideas and opinions are my very own. Thank you for being supportive of the brands who help keep Lovely Indeed rocking!

How to paint over rusted metal
How to paint over rusted metal

How to paint over rusted metal

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

14 Comments

    1. I think it could definitely work!! Give it a try and let me know how it turns out 🙂

  1. Pingback: Friday Links - The Crafted Life
  2. Wow, Rust-Oleum does it again! We’ve been using it for years, have done many inside and outside projects with it. It’s pretty wonderful.

  3. Ah! We just got some free outdoor furniture that needs a repaint-definitely going to give this a try!

  4. So ridiculously cute! i love the color you chose. Rust-Oleum is the best – I’ve used it on so many things that seemed like they were un-savable (but then they turned out great!).

  5. I have 2 metal patio chairs with designs and open cutwork that are extremely rusted. How do I get the rust off to be able to use Rustoleum to prevent further rust?

    1. Hi Patricia! Give the rust a good sanding to get off as much as you can, and then prime it with the primer. The rust shouldn’t be an issue if you pre-treat it this way. Thanks and good luck!

  6. Hi there! Does this scale still work? Or was it not in working condition when you purchased it?

    Thank you!

  7. Wow! Do they only come in glossy? I would like to try an antique white or cream on my outdoor bistro set.