Properly maintain wrought iron handrails.
Wrought iron handrails embellish interior and exterior staircases with elaborate architectural features. These handrails are durable and long-lasting, but still susceptible to damages. Rust, for instance, strikes wrought iron handrails marred with scratches or peeling paint, causing the handrails to deteriorate. The longer wrought iron handrails remain exposed to oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture, the more corroded the handrails become and difficult to restore. Rust eventually weakens the structural integrity, rotting the handrails from the inside out. Promptly repair a wrought iron handrail to preserve its function and appearance. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Scrub the wrought iron handrail with a wire brush to remove reddish-brown scale and peeling paint. Eradicate as much corrosion and loose paint fragments from the handrail as possible.
2. Inspect the handrail for rust the wire brush missed. If rust spots or patches linger, put on chemical-resistant gloves and goggles. Cover surrounding surfaces with drop cloths.
3. Dip a disposable paintbrush in naval jelly. Evenly coat all remaining rust patches with the naval jelly, thickly dabbing the caustic substance onto the corrosion. Leave the naval jelly on the handrail for 30 minutes to ensure the acid in the jelly takes full effect on the rust.
4. Dampen a rag with water. Wipe the wrought iron handrail to rinse off the naval jelly. Thoroughly rinse the handrail, leaving no naval jelly residue on the wrought iron.
5. Examine the handrail for gouged or rusted-out areas where the wrought iron has deteriorated. If areas of the handrail require filling, mix equal portions of hardener and epoxy resin/liquid steel from a cold-weld compound kit using a stirring utensil. Stir the two components on a mixing board.
6. Fill the gouged or rusted-out portion of the handrail with the cold-weld compound mixture using a putty knife. Pack the mixture into the handrail, and then let the cold-weld compound cure for 24 hours.
7. Rub the cured cold-weld compound with medium-grade emery cloth until the patched handrail is smooth. Once the repaired wrought iron is smooth, wipe the handrail with tack cloth to remove dust.
8. Pour mineral spirits over fine-grit steel wool. Scrub the previously rusted areas of the handrail to prepare for primer and paint. Thoroughly clean the handrail with the mineral spirits.
9. Coat the previously rusted areas of the handrail with rust-inhibiting alkyd primer as soon as possible. Spray the primer evenly over the handrail, using smooth back-and-forth motions. Let the primer coat air-dry overnight.
10. Apply two separate coats of alkyd metal paint over the primed handrail using a regular paintbrush. Brush the paint onto the handrail using smooth, even strokes. Let the first paint coat dry overnight before brushing on the second, and then let the second paint coat dry overnight.
Tags: wrought iron, handrail with, naval jelly, cold-weld compound, iron handrails, areas handrail, handrail using
