How to prepare and paint metal post

TanDiy

I have a metal post supporting the canopy over my front door which needs repainting. The paint is flaking and there are patches of bare metal but no rust. I am planning on removing the old paint using a heat gun to strip it back to bare metal. I am just wondering how best to paint it. I think I need to apply a coat of metal primer and then a couple of coats of gloss white paint. I was going to use a paintbrush but a friend advised that it would be easier to spray it. Any advice would be appreciated as I would like the new paint to ideally last a few years. Thanks.

pendragon_arther

If it was me I'd use Hammerite.

Ebe_Scrooge

Another vote for Hammerite, it's good stuff and will last well.


If it were me I'd use a wire brush attachment in a drill to get rid of the loose paint, wipe it down with meths to get rid of any muck, and paint with a paintbrush - I'd avoid trying to spray, it'll get everywhere. Top tip - buy a cheap paintbrush from Poundland or similar, and chuck it away when you're done. Hammerite is good stuff, but it's a bu££er to clean off, and the purpose made solvent made by Hammerite is expensive. Far cheaper and easier to use a cheap brush and throw it away.

vansboy

Screwfix do an 'own brand' Hammerite, depending on how much you may need, it may work out cheaper to buy it instead.

One other thing to consider, if doing the job in current temperatures, these paints are not as easy to apply, as they would be in warm weather, so do expect it to be a bit 'sticky' to brush on.

http://www.screwfix.com/c/decorating/paint/cat850178?cm_sp=managedredirect-_-decorating-_-metalpaint

VB

force_ten

I would say that the first thing that you need to do is work out what the pole is made of, the fact that you said the paint is peeling and the pole has no rust suggests to me that the pole could be galvanized

if it is a galvanized pole then you need to get a specialist paint for a galvanized surface, i am sure that Hammerite do a paint called Direct to Galvanised Metal Paint if it is a metal pole then that is the sort of thing i would be looking at