Skip The Sanding: Turn Old, Rusty Furniture Into A Ready-To-Paint Surface With An Amazon Find

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If you've noticed rust forming on your indoor or outdoor metal furniture, a coat of paint can give those pieces new life. One tip for painting over rust is to use a rust converter. In addition to preventing further damage, it creates a barrier that allows you repaint the surface without a lot of work. There are also a few highly reviewed rust prevention products on the market, including Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer spray from Amazon.

The Rust Reformer is a water-based spray that forms a black coating, neutralizing rust on the surface of your furniture. The black coating basically acts as a primer that you can paint over, and you don't have to sand surfaces before applying it. While this product is not meant for large projects, a single can is able to cover approximately 12 square feet of surface area. Each can is 10.25 fluid ounces and can be purchased as a single can for $9.79 or as a pack of three or six cans, with the six pack running $49.85, which breaks down to $8.30 per can. Depending on how many pieces need painting or how much rust needs to be covered, you may want more than one can on hand.

After you spray on the Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer, it takes between 20 and 40 minutes for the product to be dry to the touch. However, you'll want to wait a full hour before actually handling whatever you've sprayed, and also wait a full 24 hours before you begin painting over your furniture pieces.

If you're looking to make rusty furniture like new again, using a rust converter will help give new life to your pieces. However, before actually using the Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer, there are a few things you should know. While you do not have to sand all visible rust away before spraying the Rust Reformer on, you'll want to prep your pieces. Start by cleaning the surface and rinsing with warm water to remove any oils or dirt. If there are pieces of rust flaking off, go over those areas with a wire brush. This will give you the best possible surface to prevent future rusting and allow the reformer to stick.

While this is a popular product with a 4.7 out of 5 star rating and over 2600 reviews, as one 4-star review pointed out, it's important to "use several coats as the first coat is very thin." If you don't use more than one coat, the product can wear away over time. This can lead to the rust returning and spreading, although how long before this happens depends on the conditions where you have your furniture. 

Another point worth repeating is that this product will leave a black coating on the furniture, which can be a problem if you're planning to paint with a lighter color. While some paints, such as Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch, are a paint and primer combined, the black can still bleed through. So you may need multiple coats to properly cover the Rust Reformer.