10 Tips for Spray Painting Metal

Many items around the house can be transformed with a quick application of spray paint. Brass fixtures, which were common in the 80s and 90s are good candidates for a spray paint makeover, including light fixtures, door knobs, frames, lamps, shower enclosures, faucet knobs and candle sticks to name a few. Spray painting is a quick and easy way to paint metal surfaces. You can paint metal furniture, door knobs, cabinets and appliances with a smooth, even finish that is very difficult to achieve with a paint brush. Below are some useful tips for spray painting metal surfaces.

Work in a Ventilated Area

Because spray painting results in the emission of very fine particles of paint, it is important to prevent excessive inhalation. Open all windows and close the door to the room in which you are painting. Wear a pair of gloves to avoid getting paint on your hands.

TIP: Painting professional Pam Estabrooke, of ProTect Painters, suggests, “If the object to be painted is a light fixture, consider taking it down, and hanging it from the supports of your garage door. This allows you to move all the way around the fixture and spray it from all sides, even from underneath.”

Clean the Work Area

Spray painting will give best results if the surrounding temperature, humidity and windiness are under control. Avoid working in freezing temperatures, excessive wind and high humidity. For best results, you must thoroughly clean the surrounding area, or else dust particles can fly around and settle on the painted surface when it is still wet.

Protect Surrounding Surfaces with Drop Cloths

After cleaning the area, protect all surrounding items and the floor with drop cloths. If you are painting a small item, it helps to place it in a makeshift cubicle made of scrap cardboard. This will contain the paint spray inside.

Remove Any Rust

It is important to remove all rust before you spray paint a metal surface. Use sandpaper or a wire brush. Scrub out all the rust and then wipe the surface clean.

Remove Grease and Dirt

Clean the metal surface thoroughly beforehand. This will improve paint adhesion and finish. Use a grease cutting cleaner to remove all accumulated grease. Also ensure that the surface is free of grime and dirt.

Apply Primer

Primer is very important when painting a metal surface. In the absence of primer, the paint will not adhere to the metal, increasing chances of rust formation and peeling paint. Use a good quality primer that is compatible with metal and the paint you plant to use.

Shake the Can Well

Shake the paint sprayer well and ensure that the paint is properly mixed up. Not doing so will cause an uneven buildup of paint.

Apply a Test Coat

Before you apply paint on the metal object, spray a couple of coats on a scrap test object. Use something like a piece of cardboard. Check whether the paint lands evenly.

Hold the Can About 1-Foot Away from the Object

It is important to hold the spray paint can at the proper distance from the object. Holding it too close will result in thick coats and overlap, whereas holding it too far will result in uneven coverage.

Spray in Thin Coats and Repeat if Necessary

Avoid applying thick coats of spray paint. You achieve better coverage by applying thin coats and repeating the application till you achieve the desired results.

Pam Estabrooke, district manager of ProTect Painters, contributed to this article.