How to Keep Spray Paint from Chipping off Metal

Almost everyone who has painted metal surfaces, yard furniture, siding, and more, has experienced the defeat of the paint chipping and peeling off of the metal shortly after the work is done. You lose the look you were trying to get, the protection that should help stop rust and corrosion, and the money and time you invested in applying the paint.

It is normal to want to know how to stop paint from chipping off metal before you try to paint any other metal items. This guide should help you too.

How To Prevent Paint From Chipping Off Metal

Proper Preparation

Preparation is the key to a great paint job. Preparation of the surface creates a surface that is ready to accept paint. If you are painting metal you have to go through the preparation steps to make sure that the metal can be painted.

Some metals are coated with an oily residue that resists the paint and can cause real complications if you try to paint them. Some metal doors are primed at the manufacturer, and if you assume that primer was created with an oil-based primer, and then apply an oil-based paint you are going to have a complete mess.

Preparation of the metal includes knowing the metal you are working with, understanding the paint requirements of that metal, and making the surface ready to be painted.

Cleaning the Metal

When you think of cleaning the metal you have to remember that your goal is to remove dirt, grime, dust, and debris particulates. Your goal is also to remove oils and greasy substances that prevent paint adherence.

Take clean rags and wipe the surface of the metal down to remove any foreign matter.
If there is obvious dirt on the metal then you need to use a damp rag and clean that dirt off. You may even have to pressure wash the metal to get it clean.
Allows the metal to dry completely.
Check for rust or corrosion. If any rust is present you need to sand the rust away or at the very least sand the edges of the rusted area so the rust-prohibiting primer can stop the progression.
For the metal that was previously painted you need to take a stiff-bristled brush and remove the loose and peeling paint before you try to apply new paint. If old peeling paint is left then it will still keep peeling and will take the new paint off when it does.
Use mineral spirits and a rag and wipe the entire metal surface down. This is going to remove oils and greasy substances that clean rags and water may have left behind.
Prime the metal with a primer that has a rust inhibitor designed in the formula. The primer makes the paint stick better, it stops rust and corrosion, and it stops paint chipping from happening.

Choose the Right Spray Paint

The main way to stop paint from chipping off of metal is to choose the right products to paint with. You have to have a primer and paint that is designed for applications on metal surfaces if you want the paint to be aesthetically pleasing, protective, and durable. The wrong primers and paints will chip, crack, and peel away as the metal contracts and expands during the day.

Enamel

The very best spray paint to apply to metal surfaces is hard-wearing enamel paint. These are exterior-grade paints that have an oil-based formula. Many people resist using them because they do dry much slower than water-based paints. The slow drying process is a benefit on metal surfaces and allows the paint to cure properly and become more attached to the surface you are painting.

Do not try to apply enamel paint very thick. Enamel paint already dries slower than the water-based formulas and when you spray on thick coatings of enamel it runs and puddles. On the top of the puddles, the paint may dry to the touch but underneath it will stay moist. That moisture stops the enamel from hardening to a tightly bonded product and allows the paint to bend or move when the metal expands and contracts.

Acrylic

Water-based acrylic paint can be used on some metal surfaces. The main consideration when choosing a water-based acrylic is whether the manufacturer specifically recommends them to be used on metals, and which metals the manufacturer says the paint will adhere to.

Always stick to using the same base formula of paint that you used for the primer. If you start with an oil-based product then you need to finish with an oil-based one and vice versa. Trying to change base formulas in the middle of the job will cause you great distress and ruin the durability of the paint.

Metal Types

Steel and aluminum are both metals. The paint that is capable of adhering to steel is not always capable of adhering to aluminum. You have to read the manufacturer’s label very carefully and choose a paint that is applicable to the specific metal you are painting.

Two of the most commonly purchased spray paint brands for painting on metal surfaces are Rust-Oleum and Krylon. Both of these manufacturers have been developing spray paint for metal for many years and professional painters have grown to trust their products. Curious to know why painters wear white pants then read our article on this topic.

Spray Painting Tips for Application on Metal

Never touch the metal with your bare hands. The oils from your hands can inhibit the adherence of the paint. Always wear disposable rubber gloves or place a rag between your bare hands and the metal surface.
Masking tape is often used to tape off areas that you do not want the paint to come into contact with. This is okay but when you really want the best protection use painter’s tape that has a safe release technology. The painter’s tape is less likely to leave any residue and more likely to stop paint bleed and transfer. Having difficulties read our article on when and how to remove painter’s tape
Use a craft knife or a razor blade to trim excess tape.
Primer is not just a great preparation coating it is a necessary adherence tool. The proper primer creates a stable area for the paint to stick to.
Several thin coats of paint are preferable over one thick coat. With several thin coats, the paint gets to dry completely and is less likely to be wet and create little pockets of air that will eventually rupture and cause the paint to chip off the metal.
Shake the paint can thoroughly before you start to spray.
Do not start aiming at the surface until you have checked the paint nozzle to see how it distributes the paint when you hold the container 10” to 16” away from the surface. Spray onto the old cardboard, and adjust your distance to create the best coverage with a few runs.
If the paint is running or dripping you are too close to the surface. Move the can back a few inches.
If the coverage is sparse and not uniform you are too far away from the surface to get the can a little closer.
Never paint metal when the humidity levels are very high. The added moisture can penetrate the wet paints and cause air bubbles.
Never paint metal when it is cold because when it heats up the metal expands and the paint is stretched to its limitations. This often results in cracking and peeling.

Final Thoughts

Spray painting metal used to be a problem, but with the new formulas and paint technology, it is as easy as painting on wood. Simply choose the right paint for the job, and make the proper preparations and preparations so the surface accepts the paint and the finish is smooth and flawless.