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Painting Iron Mantel Clocks

During the industrial revolution many day-to-day items were being manufactured from iron. Today iron has been replaced with lightweight and corrosion-resistant metals like aluminum and steel, so many iron items are now antiques. Over time the finish on iron items, like mantel clocks, can peel and rust can start to form. Repainting iron involves both the application of paint and the removal of rust to ensure a smooth finish.

Things You'll Need

Emery cloth
Wire wool
Wire brush
Latex primer
Acrylic paint
Paint brushes
Painters tape
Face mask
Goggles

Instructions

- 1
  Remove all old flaking paint and rust by rubbing the iron with emery cloth, wire wool and steel brushes. The more ingrained the rust the more pressure needs to be applied. Continue until all the rust has been removed.
- 2
  Wash the metal with a mixture of water and household detergent and rinse it clean with plain water to remove any remaining particles. Allow it to dry before applying primer.
- 3
  Tape up the clock face and any other areas of the clock that are viable and should not be painted on.
- 4
  Apply a layer of latex-based corrosion-resistant primer to all iron surfaces of the clock with a paint brush in thin layers. This is essential for ensuring a good finish on the paint. Leave it to dry overnight.
- 5
  Paint on a second coat of primer. The brush stokes should always go in the same direction; lightly brush in the opposite direction to remove drips and runs.
- 6
  Coat the iron in a layer of acrylic latex top coat with a clean paintbrush. Again ensure the brush strokes always go in the same direction and back-brush to remove drips. Leave it to dry overnight and apply a second coat of paint.

Antiquing