I’m always proud to show off my latest projects but today I’m busting-at-the-seams-excited to share this one with you!
This past summer I came across this Simmons steel waterfall desk rotting in to the ground.
You know me, I’m a sucker for all things steel and metal. So of course I drug it home.
Wear and tear doesn’t really scare me but after I studied it closely I feared this may be a chuck-it project. (The Mr. slowly shaking his head at me didn’t help matters). At one time someone attempted to sand down the brown powder coating but left huge gashes in desk from the tool they used. Then, they apparently walked away and left it outside (which is where I found it). Rain and raw metal don’t always play well together.
It was covered in rust which was eating away at the steel. The desk is a Simmons and came out of the old Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Ready for the after?
Seriously, can you believe the difference?
I sanded away at it for a long time and could see the bright, beautiful metal begin to shine through so I knew it could be brought back to life.
Metal refinishing is a really tricky beast. Sometimes the brown powder coating will come off with a paint remover but not always. You also have to be careful because some paint removers are water-based which will make the metal rust even more. The best way to get that smooth, shiny finish is to hand-sand it. If you’ve ever attempted this it takes FOREVER. It’s the most boring, monotonous, annoying job in the world. No literally. People get impatient and start reaching for electric power sanders to help speed up the process. But I warn you, it rarely ends well. It never seems to be an even finish plus you risk gouging the metal if you go too far. I gave this a tiny start then life got busy and I called in for reinforcements in the form of my dynamo secret weapon Amy. This gal. She da bomb. I’ll do it all but I’m turning my metals over to her from now on.
The desk has this cute side cubby.
So unique. Love it.
The gold lines are where the welds are. Kind of like them because they match the original gold hardware. Probably the most important step of the whole process is sealing the raw steel steel with a Verethane so it won’t rust over time.
This one is for sale…$650. (Check them out online and they go for about $1200).
SOLD.
Check out my other steel furniture projects here:
Steel metal ballot box refinishing.
Hey there! I’m Michelle; I’m an Passionate DIY’er and in constant pursuit of how to bring beauty to my house full of men (3 boys + 1 hubby). Stick around and see what I’ve got up my hard-working sleaves!
Fantastic!
Thanks Mia!
I have a steel cabinet I bought at a thrift store ages ago (for next to nothing) that is rusted. It’s currently used as storage in the garage, and we attached a leftover piece of butcher block for a top since it was peeling linoleum. I coated the steel in a spray varnish to keep it from continuing to rust because I didn’t know I could do anything about it! You have made me think it might be possible to restore it!
Oh yes, restore that baby!! You won’t believe how well it shines up!
Wow! Amazing transformation. Looks so different and new. This is very inspiring. Will restore some of my old stuff at home, hope I’d get great result. 🙂
Thanks Mike!