Protecting Metal Garden Sculptures

[wiggyboy]

I have 2 metal bird sculptures from Zimbabwe and want to put them out in the garden. They are about 1/2 metre high.

What should I use to protect them?

Is there some rust-proof paint or lacquer I should use?

thanks

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

Don’t worry someone will steal them before they go rusty!

 

[breezer]

what metal are they made of?

 

[wiggyboy]

i think they are made of recyclable metal...like tin cans or, believe or not, old cars!

 

[breezer]

ah.

picture?

(see forum info for details)

oh and hold a magent on them does it stick?

 

[JohnD]

somebody is bound to come on and recommend hammerite.

It gives a glossy finish (but is difficult to repaint with anything else) however rust continues to grow under the Hammerite paint film. You will never get outdoor metalwork perfectly dry and rust free.

The more ordinary white-spirit thinned preservative primers are better for keeping rust at bay, even when scratched. Old fashioned red oxide still works but there are others now.

 

[solo]

Give them an umbrella each.

 

[ColJack]

de-grease and clear laquer spray them..

or take them to get galvanized..

 

[wiggyboy]

Ok, thanks...

"clear lacquer"? Can you be more specific i.e a brand name? maybe a clear Enamel paint?

also, "white-spirit thinned preservative primers", again not sure how I get this off the shelf or combine?

btw, I don't want to paint them any colour (or red oxide for that matter). Is there is a clear Hammerite option?

 

[JohnD]

also, "white-spirit thinned preservative primers", again not sure how I get this off the shelf or combine?

btw, I don't want to paint them any colour (or red oxide for that matter).

I just mean a spirit-based primer, not a water-based one.Since water-based would trigger rust in the steel as soon as it went on.

Red Oxide primer does not show, as primer is used before the undercoat and topcoat.

You wouldn't like them black? How about silver metallic?