How to Paint Rusty Iron Garden Furniture

This post will tackle how to Paint Rusty Iron Garden Furniture, in particular, a metal bench … and a very very rusty metal bench at that! And not just any bench, but a beloved Antique Metal Bench that I bought at auction and even though it’s a not perfect, I adore it! These products should work for Wrought Iron Patio Furniture or even Iron Garden Urns as well.

I’m still working on the Curb Appeal of the front of our house. The weather this time of year is so perfect for painting outside so I thought I would tackle this Antique Iron Garden Bench.

I’ve had this bench for many years. When I bought it, it had the perfect shabby chippy painted patina. Now? Not so much! It had become a little too weathered and rusty and was looking awfully sad.

 Supply list for Painting Rusty Iron Garden Furniture:

1. Wire Brush
2. Paint Scraper Tool
3. Paintbrush
4. Rust-oleum Rust Reformer (I used Clear, but I could only find black on Amazon)
5. Rust-oleum Oil Based Protective Enamel
6. Protective gear (Mask, Safety Glasses and Gloves) 

Step 1: I scrubbed the whole bench with warm soapy water and a wire brush.

Step 2: Next, I scraped the loose paint off with a Paint Scraper. And I used my sander to get some of the finer bits off. (Use Caution if you are working on an Antique painted piece, there is most likely lead in the paint, be sure and protect your face and eyes, so that you don’t ingest, or breath in, any of the lead particles. Proper ventilation is a must, outside is best and don’t do this near children or pets, or while pregnant!)

I wasn’t going for a brand new finish, I wanted to keep some of the rough texture so that the bench would still look old.

Step 3: I rinsed off the bench, with the hose, to remove any lingering dust or chips and then I applied the Rust-oleum Rust Reformer. (Please follow the safety instructions on the product label) Let me tell you this is the first time that I’ve tried this product before and it is some good stuff!! You just paint it on with a brush. It goes on milky white, but it dries clear. It basically seals in the rust, so that it can’t bleed through. After brushing it on, I let it dry overnight. Update: I can not find the clear product on Amazon anymore, they only have Black currently. I’m not sure if they stopped making the clear or if they are out of it. You may want to check with your local hardware store.

Step 5: Once the bench was completely dry, I painted on the Oil Based Rust-oleum Enamel Paint. (Once again, Safety first! Follow the recommended safety instructions on the Paint can) It only took one coat. Yay!

Now my bench looks a whole lot better and it’s more comfortable too since it doesn’t scratch you when you sit on it anymore!

It’s still got some nice texture to it so that it still looks like an Antique, I’m happy with the results, and I’m guessing my neighbors are probably relieved!

I hope you enjoyed learning how to paint rusty iron garden furniture and that you give painting your own iron patio furniture a try. It doesn’t take a lot of time and it sure makes a difference!