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Thread: steel stairs

  1. #1
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    Jul 2015
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    Illinois
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    1

    Default steel stairs

    how to repaint corroded steel stair treads

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
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    Maryland
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    Default Re: steel stairs

    One tread at a time...


  3. #3
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    Mar 2007
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: steel stairs

    Quote Originally Posted by Garry Sorrells View Post
    One tread at a time...
    Using a lot of "elbow grease" ...

    Seriously, though, one first needs to define "corroded" as steel "rusts" and rusted steel, other than surface rust, weakens and reduces the strength of the steel ... and the amount of rust (loss of "steel") is the key as to whether the steel stairs need restoring or replacing.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
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    Caledon, Ontario
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    Default Re: steel stairs

    If its surface rust use a angle grinder with wire brush wheel. Prime and repaint with paint specifically for metal.


  5. #5
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    Default Re: steel stairs

    Personally I like sand blasting and then spraying.


  6. #6
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: steel stairs

    Quote Originally Posted by Garry Sorrells View Post
    Personally I like sand blasting and then spraying.
    I've read, over the years, that bead blasting is better with metal as it hardens the surface while abradding away the paint.

    I've also heard of using ground nut shells - walnut, pecan and others.

    Blasting gets into the crevices better than wire brushing but makes a much bigger mess (albeit it that blasting will be quicker).

    When using a wire brush, use a cup brush with twisted wire - much more aggressive in removing paint and rust than a non twisted brush and the brush lasts longer too.

    Use caution when using a twisted cup brush as those things will literally rip your arm open if the brush grabs a corner or edge and jumps back at you ... I have about a foot long scar down my arm from that when it happened to me back in the mid-1980s.

    I'll spare you the details, but the doctor said another 15 minutes or so in getting to him and I would have died.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Lansdale, PA
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    876

    Default Re: steel stairs

    I use an angle grinder with abrasive disks. I've used several types and I like them better than wire wheels. Takes paint down to bare metal in no time. I recently cleaned the paint and quite a bit of corrosion of a cart used to hold oxy acetylene tanks. Worked quite well, but for larger surface areas bead blasting or some other type of blasting may be better.

    Think about lead paint also.


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Greene Va
    Posts
    14

    Default Re: steel stairs

    I prefer "Cold Gal" or Cold Galvanized paint.

    Last edited by Francis Vineyard; 07-25-2015 at 03:20 PM.

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