Consider Your Budget
If you are leaning towards restoring the piece you have recovered yourself, it is important to keep a budget in mind you would like to stay within. Restoring metal furniture can be costly. You have to invest in several items at local hardware stores, like safety gloves, wire brushes, sanders, primer, and paints. If you want the piece restored through the expertise of professionals, that too can be pricy.
How About Expectations?
So you’ve found that metal piece of furniture at a garage sale that was just calling out to you, and all you could see was a little work to restore it to its former glory. Or perhaps you found the rusted piece in your own attic or garage. There is yet another consideration you need to face before you start the restoration process, namely, what do you want for the piece? Do you want to jazz it up a bit, add some color and keep it as a unique piece in your own home? Or do you want to resell it to another antique hunter?
What you want for the piece should determine how you treat it. If you are pretty sure you want to resell it, look at the shape the furniture is in. It probably isn’t a completely rusty mess, or you wouldn’t want to handle it at all. If it only has the paint worn off and what is left is a hint of rust and patina tarnish, you may not want to do anything except clean it a bit with soap and water. For this is the industrial chic look, and some used-furniture hunters are more than willing to pay top dollar for pieces boasting that type of appearance, depending on its condition.
Steps to Restoring Metal Furniture
If you have your heart set on painting the piece, whether you keep it for yourself or not, there are certain steps to follow in order to handle the restoration correctly.
- 1. Remove All Rust – start with a wire brush and then move on to a sander with 60 to 80-grit sandpaper, which covers the entire surface of the piece. What should remain after this step is the smooth, exposed metal.
- 2. Prime It – select a rust-preventative primer, or a primer specifically for furniture that has previously rusted, and follow the instructions on the can. Apply a couple thin coats. If you have some of the sandpaper left, scuff up the primer coats so that the paint has a porous surface to cling to.
- 3. Paint Away – choose a spray paint color you desire and apply a couple thin coats to the furniture, giving it ample time between each coat, per the instructions listed on the paint can. After the piece is dry, step back and admire your handiwork. You’re all set!
Seeking Professional Help
If the kind of work listed above is not in your wheelhouse and, frankly, sounds like more of a headache than you’d prefer to bring the piece to furniture renovation professionals, like us at Rahn’s Furniture Refinishing. No matter what service you are looking for, we will happily listen to your wishes and make them come true. We have 50 years in the business, and will treat your furniture with care and expertise. With the case of restoring metal pieces, we’ll do the labor for you; sandblasting and buffing the piece, priming and painting it per your specifications.
Call Rahn’s Furniture Refinishing today at 562-306-1129 to set up a consultation. We’ll assess the metal piece you have and go over a plan for refurbishment with you.