Rusted milk can

Question

I have this old rusted milk can that I'd really like to polish up nice or even paint...but its super rusty and rough. What can I do/use to make this nice again? I potentially would like to use it for an address display with flowers coming out of the top. Any and all help would be appreciated!!

Patty http://funfamliving.com · Answer

Some people would say the rustier the better. Tie a burlap ribbon around the top and put a dried flower arragemint or pot of flowers in it. Or, sand with course sandpaper and use primer and then a coat or two of paint

BellaCarly · Answer

Have it sand blasted, prime it, and then paint it.

Pamela chattergoon · Answer

I just scraped the loose paint off and put two coats of paint on. Make sure to put drain holes in the bottom.

Louise · Answer

You could keep the rusty look, which I love, and use Hobby Lobby decals to put the #'s on.. the burlap suggestion is also very clever.

Carol Tiller · Answer

The bottom has rusted out of mine.  I still use it for garden decor. With a pot of plants in it.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Scrap the rust off, use a good primer for outdoors, allow to dry and paint.

Julie Arteaga · Answer

Use a wire brush to get the rust off, wash.it with soap and water and let it dry. Use the Rustoleum rust preventor paint comes in a wide variety of colors

Kimm Munson · Answer

White vinegar will take off major rust it would be perfect as a table base.

L · Answer

I would just spray it with a product to seal in the rust, spray on poly or something .

Phil a · Answer

For a more permanent paint job, wire brush off the rough surface, or not if you like that texture. Then use a good Rust Converter, a bit more expensive than regular primer, but it changes the rust into stable Magnetite which can be painted more reliably or just left in its Dark Gray color.. available most places.. Phil

Stephanie Phillips · Answer

You can also try navel jelly or Evapo-rust.

Jeannie K · Answer

What do you plan to put inside the can ?   Concrete ?      Our milk-cans are all in varying degrees of rust and restoration  ..  come painted, some not  ..  but, we've never used one as an anchor for anything .. some are filled with wine, champagne, whisky corks with a glass on top  ..  some are filled with white Christmas lights with glass on top  ..  some are used as plant stands (use an upside down plant/pot watering dish  ..  I'm rattling on, have fun, no matter how you try to protect your can, it will be something you'll enjoy for many many years to come

Kent jardine · Answer

Paint is easily purchased from Eastwood to spray on this can without scrubbing off the rust. The paint is designed to go over rust, not flaky rust. When this paint is painted on your metal it lets rust to become part of the metal again. Fantastic technology.

Sherri Johnstone · Answer

It's gorgeous as is. Just add flowers. Vintage rocks!

Phil a · Answer

Stephanie is correct, but Naval Jelly and Evapo-Rust remove the surface rust, with a bit of effort, leaving the original metal, which in time can rust again, especially if exposed to the weather. Rust Converter is easily applied and converts the rust to another substance that will not corrode any further. This is what I use on my garden tools and haven't had any returning rust problems since.

Pauliegirl1 · Answer

Rust Away...at automotive store....if thats the way you want to go?? Takes rust off to original metal...then prceed with a good primer/paint!!

Paul G. · Answer

Go to the hardware store or welding supply store and buy Restore. Apply a thin coat and walk away. The rust will be converted to a protective coating that you can leave as is or paint. The gray/black finish this product leaves is quite nice. Professional welders use this product that's why I'm recommending it.

Ginny · Answer

At a flea market/craft show, I found a crafter who re-purposes milk cans. She painted mine a sky blue then painted WELCOME on it surrounded by little flowers and some Amish signs. Cute as can be, and the price was very reasonable. I finished two myself by using rust remover and painting them red. Use for plant stand and an umbrella stand.

Dale Perrigo · Answer

Have it sandblasted then powder coated

Dfm · Answer

i savaged the milk cans from grandfathers dairy farm, they make a nice table with a 10 ft long plank across their tops- i left most of them "as is" only 1 was treated w/ rustoleum. they sit on my covered front porch.

Cyndi Dimanno-Valentine · Answer

Coke and balled up aluminum foil. Scrub well

Johnavallance82 · Answer

Hammerite or Rustoleum - You can paint on top of rust.

Agnes Chrzanowska · Answer

Sand blasting will help

Rusted milk can

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Rusted milk can

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