Gloss paint is the recommended paint for exterior metal grilles and ornamental metal work. This type of paint is a solvent based material that is difficult to
work with. Any paint drip is tedious to remove. The same problem goes with
cleaning the painting tools.
No paint manufacturer has invented a water-based gloss paint for metal and
wood. Nippon Paint has just launched a new
Hydro-gloss paint for metal and wood. But this is only for interior use.
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| The metal ornamental pieces removed from the grilles to facilitate re-painting. |
Diluting gloss paint is another issue. Certain gloss paint
can mix with Turpentine only. Turpentine is recommended for diluting most made of gloss paint. It can also be used for removing drips and stains. Thinner is usable
only for gloss paint of some manufacturers. So, it is wise to check with the
manufacturer. Thinner is more corrosive than turpentine. It can cause
itchiness and burning sensation, if it comes into contact with the skin.
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| Metal Ornamental pieces fixed, after re-painting. |
In order to avoid the messy cleaning task after each
painting, use a disposable brush or paint
roller. Medium quality painting brush or roller is adequate for the job and discarded
after application. This is an economical option.
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| Gate newly re-painted |
Before painting or re-painting metal work, ensure that all
rust and dirt are removed from the surface. The conventional way of removing
rust is using a scrapper and sandpaper. Now, there is a chemical compound that
can remove rust easily. This chemical is called “Compound EDE80”. It can be
used in concentrated form or dilute with water.
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| Removing the rust with a scrapper. |
Compound EDE80 is an industrial chemical compound used
widely in the metal processing industries.
DIY buff may encounter difficulty in sourcing this compound.
Apply the Compound EDE80 on the rusted part of the metal with
a brush or a piece of rag. Let it sets in
and react with the rust for a day. Thereafter, clean the surface to be painted
with a damped cloth. Apply Oxide Anti-rust primer to the rusted areas.The surface must be dry and clean before re-painting.
The gloss paint should be diluted, to reduce the gummy feel on the brush or roller.
Tools and materials required:
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| The roller is detachable. Discard and replace after each painting job. |
1)A short handle paint roller (small).
2) Half a dozen roller refill
3) A pair of cotton gloves
4) A scrapper.
5) A small painting brush(the one use by artist)
6)Gloss paint (quantity depends on the areas to be
painted)
7) A bottle of turpentine.
8) A bottle of thinner.
9)A large plastic sheet (10 ft X 10 ft) to cover
the areas from paint drips
10) A stirrer.
1 11) One liter of Compound EDE 80.
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| Oxide primer applied on the rusted spot. |
Paint the surface with the roller in a gently forward and
backward flow or upward and downward direction to ensure a complete and smooth
coating. Corners, coves and grooves can be painted and touch-up using an
artist brush.
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| Dipping the ornamental metal into a can of paint. |
The ornamental flower pieces on my grilles are detachable. For speedier and easier re-painting , these are removed from grilles, cleaned and dipped
into the tin of paint. Let them dry in
the sun and fix back a few days later. The paint required about five days to dry completely, for better adhesion to the
metal.
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| Drying the ornamental metal pieces in the sun. |
