How to Use a Rustoleum Primer

By Joe Steel Updated September 26, 2017

The Rust-Oleum Corporation had its beginning in a fish-oil-based paint developed by Robert Fergusson, a former sea captain. Rust-Oleum Rusty Metal Primer Spray is designed to adhere to rust and drive out moisture and corrosion, providing a surface to which top coats of paint will adhere easily. You can use it indoors or out and it comes in spray or liquid versions. Applying it takes just a little preparation.

This pipe could use some primer.

Step 1

Clean the surface of rust, grease, oil and other substances, using soap and water. You can substitute household cleaner or trisodium phosphate (TSP) if you wish, but Rust-Oleum advises against cleaning with solvents, noting that they smear grease and grime around.

Step 2

Chip off rust and loose paint with the paint scraper, wire brush and sandpaper. Lightly sand glossy surfaces.

Step 3

Rinse the surface with water and let it dry thoroughly.

Step 4

Shake the spray can vigorously. Do this for one minute after you hear the mixing ball begin rattling. Shake frequently while applying the primer.

Step 5

Spray steadily back and forth, holding the can 10 to 16 inches from the surface, keeping the can in motion and slightly overlapping your strokes.

Step 6

Apply two coats a few minutes apart. Let the primer dry thoroughly before applying a top coat.

Things You Will Need

Soap
Wire brush or steel wool
Paint scraper
Sandpaper

About the Author

Joe Steel is a Northwest-based editor, writer and novelist, former news editor of an outdoor weekly. He also was an editor at a Seattle-based political weekly and editor of a monthly business magazine. He has been published in the "Seattle Times," the "Washington Post" and the "Foreign Service Journal," among other publications.