Paint Cast Iron
Cast iron can be painted with an oil-based metal primer and paint. If the iron is rusty or has been previously painted, the rust or paint should be removed before new painting is begun. Oil-based painting can be messy and the paint can take several hours to dry. Spray-paint can also be applied to cast iron. Use these steps to paint cast iron.
Steps
- Remove any rust on the cast iron. You may be able to use a wire brush to scrub off the rust. A sandblaster or rust-removing chemical products can also be used if you need to take off a lot of rust and are not worried about possible damage to the cast iron.
- Wear proper safety equipment if working with a power tool or chemical to remove the rust. This may include gloves, goggles and a respirator.
- Sand away or otherwise remove existing paint. The sanding can be done lightly. Gather up and properly discard chipped or peeling paint, which could be lead-based.
- Clean the cast iron. Remove any dirt, dust, stains, or other items such as cobwebs. You may need a brush to clean the cast iron.
- Wear old clothes to paint in. You may need to throw away the clothes after painting the cast iron.
- Prepare a painting surface in an outdoor or well-ventilated area. Use a flat surface or material to collect dripped paint as you work. A table or drop cloth material may be possible options.
- Keep a clean rag and mineral spirits near your work area. Use the rag to clean your hands while you paint. The spirits can clean your painting tools and thin your paint.
- Coat bare or unpainted cast iron with primer. Choose an oil-based primer. Follow the primer's directions for how many coats you need. Allow time for a coat of primer to dry before applying another if necessary.
- Apply oil-based paint to the cast iron. Dip 1/4-inch (0.63 cm) of your paintbrush into the paint at a time. This will help prevent less paint from running and dripping off the brush.
- Give the iron 2 coats of paint. Wait 24 hours for the first coat of paint to dry before applying the second one.
Tips
- If painting an object that conducts heat, such as a cast iron radiator, paint with a metallic finish conducts less heat than matte paint.
- Try buying primer, paint and cleaning and painting supplies for your cast iron object(s) at a hardware store.
- Use high-heat spray paint as an alternative to oil-based paint. Smoothly keep the can of spray paint moving as you work to ensure an even coating.
- You may be able to spray cast iron radiators or other detailed cast iron objects with a primer and then spray on paint after the primer has dried.
- Consider hiring a professional to sandblast rust or remove paint from your cast iron.
Warnings
- Wear a respirator while spraying primer and paint.
Things You'll Need
- Hardware store
- Wire brush
- Sandblaster
- Rust-removing products
- Cleaning rags or brushes
- Safety equipment
- Old clothes
- Painting surface
- Clean rag
- Mineral spirits
- Paintbrush
- Oil-based metal primer
- Oil-based paint
