IF YOU have some solid and comfortable metal patio furniture that's been around for a while and is starting to rust, you might be wondering what you can do with it.
IF YOU have some solid and comfortable metal patio furniture that's been around for a while and is starting to rust, you might be wondering what you can do with it.
You can throw it out and buy new furniture, but getting that old furniture looking good again isn't really a difficult job and you candefinitely save yourself some money.
If you're willing to invest a little time and a few rands you can rescue that old patio furniture and give it a brand new look. Here's how:
Things you need
Naval jelly
rubber gloves
wire brush or steel wool
garden hose
paint brush or cloth
metal primer paint
metal paint
What's Naval jelly?
It's is a commercial product specifically formulated to remove rust, (the active ingredient is phosphoric acid that dissolves surface rust), commonly available at most hardware stores.
You simply brush it on with a paint brush or spread it on with a rag, wait a little while then rinse it off.
The jelly is great for cleaning up metal furniture because with its thick consistency, it stays in place even on vertical surfaces, so the acid has time to dissolve the rust, exposing the clean, bare metal under the rust.
Since it does contain acid you do need to take some precautions when using it, such as wearing rubber gloves to protect your skin, goggles to protect your eyes and working outside or where there's lots of moving air - so you're not breathing in fumes which are not good for your health.
Refinishing your metal patio furniture
The first step to refinishing your patio furniture is to remove as much surface rust as you can using a wire brush or steel wool.
Once the surface rust is removed, put on your rubber gloves and brush or spread a layer of Naval jelly onto the metal. Now, simply let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes then rinse it off with a garden hose.
As the jelly rinses off it will take most of the dissolved surface rust along with it. Be sure you don't let the jelly stay on the surface too long or it could dry out and be difficult to remove.
If your furniture is deeply rusted, you may need to repeat the process once or twice, but with patience, you will end up with a rust-free surface. Unfortunately, if the rust has advanced so far the metal surface is pitted, the jelly won't be able to get the surface totally rust-free, but even at that, it will greatly improve the appearance of your furniture.
Once the rust is gone and you're down to clean, bare metal spray on a metal primer paint (sprays give the the best finish - no brush marks) and let it dry.
Complete the job by applying one or two coats of metal spray paint.
You can add a little extra protection to your refinished furniture (and help keep it looking good longer), by spraying the metal surfaces with a clear coat.
A word of caution
Naval jelly should only be used on steel and iron. Don't use it on chrome or aluminum and if it gets on a painted surface, wipe it off quickly or it will damage the paint. - doityourself.com
Naval jelly does the patio trick
IF YOU have some solid and comfortable metal patio furniture that's been around for a while and is starting to rust, you might be wondering what you can do with it.
IF YOU have some solid and comfortable metal patio furniture that's been around for a while and is starting to rust, you might be wondering what you can do with it.
You can throw it out and buy new furniture, but getting that old furniture looking good again isn't really a difficult job and you candefinitely save yourself some money.
If you're willing to invest a little time and a few rands you can rescue that old patio furniture and give it a brand new look. Here's how:
Things you need
Naval jelly
rubber gloves
wire brush or steel wool
garden hose
paint brush or cloth
metal primer paint
metal paint
What's Naval jelly?
It's is a commercial product specifically formulated to remove rust, (the active ingredient is phosphoric acid that dissolves surface rust), commonly available at most hardware stores.
You simply brush it on with a paint brush or spread it on with a rag, wait a little while then rinse it off.
The jelly is great for cleaning up metal furniture because with its thick consistency, it stays in place even on vertical surfaces, so the acid has time to dissolve the rust, exposing the clean, bare metal under the rust.
Since it does contain acid you do need to take some precautions when using it, such as wearing rubber gloves to protect your skin, goggles to protect your eyes and working outside or where there's lots of moving air - so you're not breathing in fumes which are not good for your health.
Refinishing your metal patio furniture
The first step to refinishing your patio furniture is to remove as much surface rust as you can using a wire brush or steel wool.
Once the surface rust is removed, put on your rubber gloves and brush or spread a layer of Naval jelly onto the metal. Now, simply let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes then rinse it off with a garden hose.
As the jelly rinses off it will take most of the dissolved surface rust along with it. Be sure you don't let the jelly stay on the surface too long or it could dry out and be difficult to remove.
If your furniture is deeply rusted, you may need to repeat the process once or twice, but with patience, you will end up with a rust-free surface. Unfortunately, if the rust has advanced so far the metal surface is pitted, the jelly won't be able to get the surface totally rust-free, but even at that, it will greatly improve the appearance of your furniture.
Once the rust is gone and you're down to clean, bare metal spray on a metal primer paint (sprays give the the best finish - no brush marks) and let it dry.
Complete the job by applying one or two coats of metal spray paint.
You can add a little extra protection to your refinished furniture (and help keep it looking good longer), by spraying the metal surfaces with a clear coat.
A word of caution
Naval jelly should only be used on steel and iron. Don't use it on chrome or aluminum and if it gets on a painted surface, wipe it off quickly or it will damage the paint. - doityourself.com