Stripping Paint from Metal

Paint lifts and peels away from a metal surface.
What You'll Need
Rubber gloves
Respirator
Safety glasses
Wire brush
Multi-purpose cleaner
Clean rags
Old newspapers
Paint stripper
Plastic bucket
Paint brush
Putty knife
Mineral spirits
Rust converter
Primer
Paint
What You'll Need
Rubber gloves
Respirator
Safety glasses
Wire brush
Multi-purpose cleaner
Clean rags
Old newspapers
Paint stripper
Plastic bucket
Paint brush
Putty knife
Mineral spirits
Rust converter
Primer
Paint

After being exposed to the elements for some time, the paint on your outdoor metal furniture starts to flake and stripping it all together becomes a necessity. To strip off the paint from your metal furniture, here is what you need to do.

Step 1 – Safety First

It is very important that you wear safety glasses, a face mask, and rubber gloves before you start stripping paint off any surfaces, especially when you are using chemical solutions. Most types of paint stripping solutions emit a strong smell that can irritate your lungs, so to avoid accidents, you also need to maintain good ventilation in your working area. Most types of paint removers contain strong chemicals so you should avoid handling them with your bare hands as well.

Step 2 – Clean the Surface

Brush the whole surface first with the wire brush to loosen particles and rust. Then, clean it thoroughly using a multi-purpose cleaner to remove the rest of the grease, dirt, and other contaminants. The stripping solution will partly lose its efficacy if the paint surface has these contaminants. Dry all surfaces afterward using clean rags.

Step 3 – Apply the Paint Stripping Solution

Dry the entire working area and lay two levels of the old newspapers across the floor. This will later collect the stripped materials from the furniture.

Carefully pour a good amount of paint stripping solution into the plastic bucket and paint the whole surface of the piece using a paintbrush. Let the solution adhere to the surface and wait until the paint loosens up so it can easily be scraped and brushed. A good indicator that paint has loosened is when it starts to wrinkle.

Step 4 – Strip the Paint Off

Strip off the loosened paint using the putty knife and completely remove it from the metal surface using a wire brush. If there are portions of paint that still remain, apply paint stripper the second time and scrape it off. After all the paint has been removed, use rags and mineral spirits to wipe the whole surface.

Step 5 – Apply Rust Converter, Primer, and Fresh Paint

To repaint the metal, inspect the pieces for any signs of wear and tear, and sand off corroded areas thoroughly before applying rust converter. You may apply two coats of rust converter to provide a good foundation for your primer. Let the rust converter dry for at least four hours before you apply the primer.

Next, put some of the primer on a paintbrush and use it to paint the surface of the metal. Use a smaller brush to apply the primer to hard-to-reach areas. Let the primer dry overnight and apply fresh paint on your furniture thereafter. Apply at least three thin coats of paint on your furniture to achieve a fine finish. When applying paint, you need to let each coat dry before you add another coat so that it can properly cure. You may apply primer sealant on top of each coat of paint to achieve better color uniformity.