How to Repaint Metal Light Poles
- 1). Attack rusted areas with a steel bristled brush. Brush vigorously in a back and forth motion to remove as much rust as possible.
- 2). Sand the rounded part of the pole with coarse grit sandpaper. Work around the pole with the sandpaper. Wipe off the sanding dust with a damp rag.
- 3). Spray the metal pole with phosphoric acid. The acid will convert any invisible rust to a crust of iron phosphate. Let the solution work overnight.
- 4). Scrub the metal pole with a steel bristled brush where you see crust. Completely remove all of the iron phosphate crust.
- 5). Apply oil based metal primer to the light pole. Start at the top of the pole and work down to catch drips as you move. Apply one to two thin coats of primer. Let the primer dry completely.
- 6). Paint the metal pole with an oil based metal paint, using the same technique used to apply the primer. Apply two to three thin coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry before applying another.
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