How To Paint Stainless Steel Railing

To maintain an elegant look, you need to paint your stainless steel railing regularly. To paint the railing you need to follow these steps:

Remove old paint and rust

The first thing you need to do is to remove any peeling paint or visible rust that might be on the metal surface. Here you need to use a steel bristled brush to brush along the railing.

You should move the brush back and forth in quick motions while at the same time applying pressure in order to remove all the rust and paint. A metal file is also a great tool to use to get rid of the rust.

Once the metal railing is completely smooth, you should apply a non-methylene chloride chemical stripper to the railing. Using a putty knife, you should scrape the chemical stripper and the paint off the surface of the metal

After doing this you should sand the rounded and curved portions of the railing using medium-grit sandpaper. You should continue sanding until the metal is smooth. Once smooth you should use a clean cloth to remove any chipped paint or residue.

You should then spray phosphoric acid on the steel railing to get rid of any rust that might be still on the surface. When the acid mixes with rust, it forms an iron phosphate crust that is easily removed. For ideal results you should leave the acid overnight then brush it off the following morning using a steel bristled brush.

Paint the railing

Before applying the paint you need to first apply an oil-based primer. To apply the primer you need to soak a trim brush in the primer and then apply it on the metal surface. You should let the primer dry for 4-8 hours after which you should apply your paint.

You should use an oil-based paint where you should start painting from the top and work your way down. For ideal results you should apply a thin coat with your paintbrush. You should use quick strokes in your painting.

It’s recommended that you apply a second coat; however, you should let the first coat dry for at least four hours before applying the second coat. After applying the second coat you should leave the paint to dry for at least 24 hours after which you can start using the railing.

To avoid inhaling the toxic paint, you should wear a face mask. You should also wear gloves to avoid coming into contact with the paint.