Painting Metal Fences

[Tundra]

Our technically white 'spear' fence is looking daggy. Bits are rusted or peeling. I'd love to get it painted, even if I do it myself.

What sort of paint should I use? How would I go about doing it? (especially since there are trees up against the fence haha)

I know it will mean it won't last very long but how much would it matter about the rusted bits? I don't really care that the rust will go through the paint at some point in the future.

[caraez]

There are spray paints specially made for metal. There are special ones to prevent rust too. Over here we have something called "rust-oleum"

[Tundra]

I'm not sure how I'd spray it when it's not a solid surface... They're fairly narrow poles.

[MichaelB]

You can also get paint designed for metal, they have rustproofer mixed in, in tins. I believe Dulux carries a good product for that. (Quit Rust, or something)

One website I found had this:

I am a wrought iron fabricator in Huntington, WV and this is a subject that comes up all the time with my customers. Honestly, either paint you mentioned is fine...when it comes to wrought iron, the thicker and heavier you get the paint on, the better. So while it is easier to spray, it will last longer if you brush. There are some better choices for paint though...but you will spend more money. I recommend an automotive epoxy paint. You can find these at a paint store that sells to body shops, such as RMS or anyone that carries PPG paints. The paints require mixing with a hardener and can cost up to $100/gallon but they are well worth it. In our shop, instead of the normal process you would use on a car (ie primer, base coat, clear coat) 3 STEPS! we use a black epoxy primer and leave it alone. It will sun fade slightly in time, thus adding to the authenticity of your wrought iron look. With this paint it is recommended to get a sprayer ($35 @ Lowe's) and wear a respirator, however, you can brush if needed. The only downfall to brushing is that after the hardener is added to the paint, you have about six hours before the paint gets too stiff to brush, so you have to mix it in small amounts if you have a large area to do. These paints will last several years longer than traditional paints on the market in hardware stores. Sometimes ten years or more before any signs of rust. I hope this helps.

Expensive, but it will last for years and years. There are cheaper products that do a similar job though, like RustAway and KBS RustSeal. Pretty much every major paint brand has a rust prevention formula, although they can be expensive (not nearly as expensive as the epoxy stuff above).