MID-CENTURY metal chair MAKEOVER
Alun Machin
AFTER ‘A couple of coats of paint and new rubber feet makes it look brand new.’
BEFORE ‘I found this chair on the side of the road and love the shape. But up close it has surface rust and damaged areas.’
The Makeover
The one thing that instantly transforms metal furniture is paint and the trick is to consider the surface you’re working and choose the specialist paint to suit.
This project was originally written by Natasha Dickins on behalf of Little Red Industries to run as part of the relaunch of Havven.com.au, home of all things DIY.
1. Give the chair a wipe down to clean off any dirt and remove any damaged bits, such as the feet.
2. Use small pliers or scissors to clip away any plastic covering that has frayed, cutting close to the frame
3. Use a paint scraper to chip of any rust and smooth the surface, checking over the joints and under the chair.
4. Use 120-grit abrasive paper with a sanding block and smooth out the damaged sections.
5. Check that all the damaged sections feel smooth.
6. Set up a spray booth in a ventilated area using cardboard boxes to catch the overspray.
7. Wipe the chair with a clean, damp cloth to remove dust.
8. Spray the chair in sections, holding the can about 15cm away, starting at the back and underneath.
TIP Use Hammerite Direct to Rust Metal Paint for good coverage, and it also treats the rust on the exposed metal parts. Choosing the Hammered effect in Black helps hide the bumps while treating the corrosion.
9. For a smooth finish that avoids any drips, spray fine layers and leave to dry before each.
10. Add new rubber feet to protect your floors, from a hardware store for about $1 each.
