How to Remove Rust & Paint From Outdoor Iron Chairs

Remove Rust

• 1

  Remove any cushions from the chairs. Examine the chairs for structural damage before beginning; rust can weaken the chair legs or arms.

• 2

  Wipe down the chairs with a cloth to remove any loose rust or dirt. Brush the entire chair with a large dry wire brush. Use a firm grip and push the brush into the metal to remove the rust and paint from the chair.

• 3

  Switch to a smaller wire brush. Push the brush into decorative openings that were too small for your large wire brush. Scrub each section of the chair until you remove as much rust as you can with the small brush.

• 4

  Sand the chair with sandpaper to remove more rust. Begin with a coarse sandpaper to remove paint and rust that may be slightly embedded into the chair. Repeat the sanding process with a medium sandpaper grit, and finish with a fine-grit sandpaper.

• 5

  Mix a commercial rust remover according to the package label. A commercial rust remover will remove any rust or paint flecks you cannot see or have been unable to remove with the brushing process.

• 6

  Dip your wire brush into your bucket of rust remover. Concentrate on any areas you still see visible rust. Avoid moving the brush in a straight line, which can etch the iron. Move your brush in a circular pattern over the chair.

• 7

  Switch to a dry paintbrush after you have scrubbed the visible rusty areas with the rust remover and wire brush. Use the dry brush to brush the chair thoroughly to remove all the rust residue left by the chemical rust remover.

• 8

  Sand the chair with a piece of fine steel wool. Use a circular stroke to help smooth the surface of the chair.

• 9

  Wipe your rust-free chair with a sponge dampened in water. Allow to dry.

Remove Paint

• 10

  Examine your dried chairs to ensure no rust remains. Apply a commercial paint stripper to your chairs with a brush or sponge, depending on the type of paint stripper you choose.

• 11

  Allow the stripper to process according to the package directions. Some paint strippers work in minutes, while others take hours.

• 12

  Wipe the paint stripper residue off with a cloth or sponge. Wear gloves during this process to ensure your skin does not come into contact with the paint stripper.

• 13

  Use a wire brush to remove any paint stripper that remains in crevices or decorations on your iron chairs. Examine the chair for flecks of leftover paint by looking closely at the places where the legs or arms connect to the main part of the furniture. Use sandpaper to remove small flecks of paint that still remain.

• 14

  Prime the furniture with a rust-inhibiting primer before repainting the furniture.