How to Paint an Iron Table

A well-finished iron table is an accent to any room.

Iron furniture such as a table can be very classy and beautiful when painted and maintained properly. You need to make sure you take care of any rust or flaking paint before painting your table, and choose quality paint so your work will last. With some time and effort, your iron table can look as good as new.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloths or plastic sheeting
• Painter's tape
• Rubber gloves
• Medium-grit sandpaper
• Conversion coating
• Two soft-bristle paint brushes
• One hard-bristle paint brush
• Iron paint

Instructions

1. Place your table on top of the drop cloths or plastic sheeting to protect your work area.

2. Remove any non-iron pieces from your table (glass, etc.). If the pieces cannot be removed easily, apply painter's tape to all of the edges that contact the iron.

3. Sand off any loose rust and paint flakes from your table.

4. Clean away any large particles by hand and with a soft-bristle brush, but do not remove the dust particles you created by sanding.

5. Apply a thin layer of conversion coating to the entire table surface with a clean, soft-bristle paint brush and let dry. Do not remove the particles that form on the table's surface, as they will help your paint bind to the iron.

6. Apply a thick layer of paint to the entire table surface with a clean, hard-bristle paint brush and let dry. Work the paint into the surface to create a strong bond between the paint and iron.

7. Apply additional coats of paint until you achieve the coverage you want.

Tips & Warnings

• Although latex gloves will protect your hands during painting, they are easily destroyed by sandpaper. Rubber gloves hold up better.

• If your table has extensive rust, you may want to sandblast the surface instead of sanding.

• Although you can use spray paint on your table, a can and brush allow greater control. The brush allows you to blend the paint with the rust dust, which forms a longer-lasting bond than just spraying the paint on top of it.

• Always paint in a well-ventiliated area.

References

• Chest of Books: Painting Wrought Iron