[mathmonger]

I have to paint the wrought iron railings on my front porch. They are a rusty mess. Every time I'm at Harbor Freight I'm eyeing the needle scaler. I don't know anything about them, but it looks cool. Would it be an appropriate tool?

Everybody says wire brush, but I have found that less than satisfying. Wire wheel on the grinder turned me into a porcupine. Media blasting is probably more adventure than I am looking for.

 

[cmorales]

It depends how thick and big the rust is, you may use needle scaler to remove dust, rust or nick.

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

I have 2 of the harbor freight needle scalers, the large and small, both work great, no problems yet...

 

[SeniorSitizen]

To prepare for painting do a combination of mechanical / chemical preparation.

Go back to the basics of using the common hand wire brush followed by wiping down with a wet cloth to remove residue. Apply "The Works" household cleaner following label safety precautions. The Works contains Phosphoric acid which will darken the remaining rust in 24 hours, then paint.

 

[joecaption]

FYI A Knotted cup brush will give you far less loose wires.
A needle scaler will require at least a 5 CFM compressor to run it.

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

the needle scaler will get up into the spots right under the top rail and get out the chucks of rust/rot/old paint...wire brush isnt gona cut it..if itd more than just surface rust...

 

[wptski]

To prepare for painting do a combination of mechanical / chemical preparation.

Go back to the basics of using the common hand wire brush followed by wiping down with a wet cloth to remove residue. Apply "The Works" household cleaner following label safety precautions. The Works contains Phosphoric acid which will darken the remaining rust in 24 hours, then paint.

I had an old Jerry type gas can for an old Sears long run generator that had rust inside. I read about using "The Works" for the rust. I kept rotating the can so it covered all areas but the areas that were wet turned back to rust when exposed to air again after a rotation. I had to use a stick with a rag trying to remove the residue but it always came back. I gave up, chucked it and prefabbed a 5 gallon plastic can with the proper fittings.

Don't know why The Works didn't!:surprise:

I have Wrought iron supports on my porch that have a flower design with leafs. I have a needle scaler but was scared that it might break off one of the detailed flowers, etc. I have bent some fairly thick steel with it before.

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

once rust starts in a metal gas can, you need to clean the rust, then coat the inside with a gas tank sealer to stop the rust from coming back, as there was a coating originally that overtime failed... you will need several tools to derust iron railing..use the proper tool for what needs to be done without damaging fragile areas of the railing...

 

[SeniorSitizen]

A needle scaler to remove rust on a rail is about equal to hunting elephants with a .22.

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

maybe the original op can post a picture so you know what and how much rust he has to deal with, then use the appropriate tool...

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I've got a couple needle scalers, they screw onto my air hammer,...

Mostly use 'em for cleanin' lag off welds,....

Knotted/ twisted wire brush, either a cup brush, or pancake style are my go to rust removers,...
Scaler might be just the ticket for tight spots though,...

'n they Are air-hogs,...