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So I need to re-paint the exterior metal rail on the steps leading to my front door. It's rusty but not to the point of flaky, also there are spots where original paint started to show bubble and peel off.
I went to home depot and sherwin williams to buy paint and get some education on the paint job (first home owner, first paint job). HD paint guy told me that I can use latex paint as they are newer technology and I don't need paint thinner to clean the brush, just with soapy water. But he advised me that only use matching primer with the paint (water based to water based, oil based to oil based).
Sherwin guy told me another story. He said, latex paint can be used on top of oil based paint or primer, but not the other way around. Since I don't know what type of original paint was used, he said just sand off the rusty spots and apply oil based primer to cover up the rusty spots, then paint the whole thing with latex paint wouod be fine. His points were:
1. Only use oil based primer for rust protection;
2. primer needs to be applied on bare metal, so unless I want to remove the original paint entirely, it might not be a good idea to use primer on the rest of paint covered surface.
3. since I don't know what paint was used, but I need to use oil based primer for rust, if the original paint is water based, applying the oil primer on top of water based paint would be a problem later on(cracking, bad adeshision of paint).
Which opinion is right? I searched online for rusty metal surface paint, most of them suggested used oild based everything, and use primer for the entire surface, but I think most of them were talking about bare metal surface without old paint.
You sprayed the whole rail not just the rusty spots right? And did you take off the rail or it's free standing? I could not take off mine, and I'm having trouble figuring out how to use the spray without the paint hitting on the ground, and off in the air as well.
To original poster! That's all completely wrong advice! (What you have been told.)
You need to sand down the flaking paint with black sandpaper, then regular, going from coarse to finer.
Remove dust completely.
Apply Os-Pho (Phosphoric acid) to rusted areas, 2 X. (Os-Pho is an inexpensive green liquid)
Wait 24 hours.
Apply XIM OIL-BASE primer, 2X, preferably. (Use either clear XIM or white - your choice)
LIGHTLY sand again.
Remove all dust.
Apply the finish OIL base paint.
Do all of the above by brush!
Do not stray from this process at any stage!
Oil base products can be removed from brushes with mineral spirits; a disposable brush should be used for the XIM(!) primer; simple water clean-up of the disposable brush used with the phosphoric acid. Use gloves for the acid treatment on the rust.
(Rust will turn black. That's good.)
Everybody is telling me different method, so confusing.
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LOL... here's another one. If it's me I'm going to use a grinder and wire wheel to get it all down to bare metal quickly. Compressor to blow the dust off, apply primer, apply paint...
I wish I have a tool collection like you guys do. Your way sounds like a total remake, can u guys suggest the quick and easier way? And most importantly, which opinion regarding the oil based and water based usage was correct? Just don't want to do anything obviously wrong. Thanks a lot.
I can tell you that when it comes to treating rust, anything "quick and easy" will result in you having to do the job over again when the rust comes back in a year or two.
Post #4 is the way to go. If you can't do it yourself, find a handyman.
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(What you have been told.)
rainroosty is correct
