Metal lockers are storage devices that can last a lifetime.
Metal lockers are versatile and hard-wearing pieces of storage equipment that can be used for many years in schools, workplaces and other settings. Like any other piece of frequently used equipment, metal lockers can become scratched, marked or dented and may need to be refurbished on several occasions throughout their lifetimes. As well as preparing them correctly, they should be painted using techniques that ensure maximum paint adhesion and effective paint coverage.
Instructions
1. Remove the door of the locker if you want to paint the inside as well. This will require a hinge pin set. Punch out the two hinge pins at the top and bottom ends of the door and the door will pull away easily. Place the door on a panel stand and store the removed pins safely. Leave the door in place if you only intend to paint the outside of the metal locker.
2. Take a medium-grade soft sanding pad and rub down all surface areas of the locker until the existing paint is completely dull. This process is called "keying" and provides an etched surface that primers and paints can adhere to. If there are any small surface dents on the metal locker, activate the required amount of body filler with a small amount of hardener and apply with a plastic spreader. The body filler should be smeared into the dent and spread across the surrounding area until it sits just above the surface of the locker. Leave the body filler to dry for 15 minutes.
3. Wrap a sheet of P80-grit abrasive paper around a sanding block and rub down the body filler, ensuring the block remains flat at all times. Continue until a completely flat surface is achieved. Rub the medium-grade soft sanding pad lightly over the filler to remove excessive scratching. Blow the remaining dust from the locker with a can of compressed air. Wipe the metal locker with a piece of lint-free cloth soaked in degreaser and dry thoroughly. Use masking tape to cover the door locks to stop the buildup of overspray.
4. Place the locker in an upright position on several sheets of newspaper. If the door has been removed, hang it from a supporting structure such as a beam. Wipe the surface of the metal locker with a tack cloth to remove any traces of dirt and grit. Take an aerosol can of self-etching primer and apply three full coats over the repaired areas only, leaving a five-minute period between each coat to allow the primer to cure. Once all three coats have been applied, leave the primer to dry completely before rubbing it down with the medium-grade soft sanding pad. Wipe over the surfaces of the locker with the tack cloth to remove any traces of dust.
5. Take a can of acrylic aerosol paint and apply a light first coat over the surface of the metal locker. Hold the can approximately 12 inches from the surface and ensure that each movement of the arm allows the paint to be crossed in order to avoid dry patches. Leave the paint to cure for 15 minutes and add a full second coat using the same procedure. Continue adding coats at 15-minute intervals until full coverage is achieved. Three to four coats will usually be sufficient with canned aerosol paints.
6. Leave the metal locker to dry overnight. Once the paint has completely cured, remove the masking tape from the locks and, if it has been removed, hang the door back on by punching the pins back through their respective hinges.
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