To maintain a stylish look, you need to paint the stainless steel railing regularly. To paint the railing you must follow these steps:
Remove old paint and rust.
The first thing to do is remove any peeling paint or visible rust that may be on the metal surface. Here you need to use a steel bristle brush to brush along the railing.
You should move the brush back and forth in quick movements while applying pressure to remove all rust and paint. A metal file is also a great tool for removing rust.
Once the metal railing is completely smooth, you need to apply a chemical stripper without methylene chloride to the railing. With a putty knife, you should scrape the chemical stripper and paint off the surface of the metal.
After doing this, you need to sand the rounded and curved parts of the railing with medium grit sandpaper. You should keep sanding until the metal is smooth. Once it’s smooth, you should use a clean cloth to remove any peeling paint or residue.
Next, you need to spray phosphoric acid on the steel railing to remove any rust that may still be on the surface. When acid mixes with rust, it forms an iron phosphate crust that is easily removed. For ideal results, you should leave the acid on overnight and then brush it off the next morning with a steel bristle brush.
Paint the railing
Before applying the paint, you must first apply an oil-based primer. To apply the primer, you need to soak a clipping brush in the primer and then apply it on the surface of the metal. You need to let the primer dry for 4-8 hours, after which you need to apply the 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 layer with your brush. You should use quick strokes in your painting.
A second coat is recommended; however, you must allow the first coat to dry for at least four hours before applying the second. After applying the second coat, you should let the paint 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 contact with the paint.