Next Project--Refinishing Wrought-Iron Birdcage

[Lesbest]

Whatever you use remember that the birds move along the cage with their beaks...... you don't want to poison them with the stripper or the paint. Anything you need gloves for would probably burn your tongue.....so be careful. Hate to lose expensive birds to cheap chemicals.
Driving kids around would be the least of your problems if those are your wife's birds. Just a thought.
Les

[Kevin A]

Whatever you use remember that the birds move along the cage with their beaks...... you don't want to poison them with the stripper or the paint. Anything you need gloves for would probably burn your tongue.....so be careful. Hate to lose expensive birds to cheap chemicals.
Driving kids around would be the least of your problems if those are your wife's birds. Just a thought.
Les

Birds? That cage is for Ira when his wife finds out he didn't clean the house for the B-day party...

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Oh my gosh, Ira... how will you ever pick from all these choices? I did some refinishing quite a while back for a w.i. bench and bedframe. I used steel wool, and lots of elbow grease. The point about lingering toxins from use of sprays, dips, etc. is a valid concern (especially if they are your spouse's $$$ birds). Then you'd really have something to story us about. With furniture (wood) refinishing and lots of spindles or nooks and crannies, the dip method is so quick, but I found I liked having hands on and with wood it became a labour of love. Have not used a bath or w.i. dip but I was floored by the amount of ways that have been given so far. Next time I come around a find of w.i. I'd like to buy it just to try it.

Hope you pick the one that works best, and easiest for you.

TDN

[dhazard]

I second Powder coating. I have two different friends that have had that done and it holds up.

[AlaskaJack]

Guess you couldn't get by with having the bird stuffed and mounted.... and rattle can paint over the rust? ..... stick the mounted bird inside and you're done!! ..... yep, lol, you'd really be done!!

[Ira]

Thanks for the replies, guys, and sorry I didn't post again sooner. (Birthday party ALL day yesterday.)

There were some brilliant points made here, but the most brilliant has to do with CHEAP. (And you don't easily find a place to powdercoat something down here.) I don't want to make this a major, major project.

I LOVE the Eazy-Off idea, but I can't believe there are going to be any residual toxins if I rinse the hell out of the thing.I have to be careful with the paint, but with the stripping of the thing? And I'm also a little suspicious that Eazy-Off wil actually get the paint off ANYWAY. Doesn't really have to--just the places where a little rust meets the good paint.

Let me think. I love this bird beyond words, and couldn't live with anything happening to him because i made a stupid decision.

[Elumia]

re; rinsing off. If you are using the garden hose and it runs down to the storm sewer, that water typically runs to the nearest river, lake, stream or ocean. Think before you send some nasty stuff in that direction.

You might be able to take your bircage somewhere to have it media blasted (think auto body repair) so you can paint it. Think about what your time is worth and weigh it against the cost of having someone do the stripping.

Mark

[Ira]

re; rinsing off. If you are using the garden hose and it runs down to the storm sewer, that water typically runs to the nearest river, lake, stream or ocean. Think before you send some nasty stuff in that direction.

I appreciate the input, but you have to understand the ecological balance of South Florida:

There is none.

Bush voted against it, because Gore DID.

[AlaskaJack]

I just read the label.... mostly said to "avoid" getting it on your skin, walls, floor, etc. (and trust me on this: DON'T get a whifff of this stuff!) Given that its intended use is in your oven.... I would assume that it doesn't linger and kill. (.... maybe over time.. .... like so many many other chemicals floating around...)

I used mine next to the house over a grassy area..... it didn't harm the grass. And I think the small amount one would use would be adequately diluted with the rinsing..... JMHO

[mfkaplan]

I too have parrots. I'm not so worried about how you will get the old paint off, but with what you will paint it with that's non toxic. The cage should be well washed after you remove the paint. Maybe Dawn dishwashing soap and a stiff bursh and well rinsed. Paint is an option, but the best woud be powder coating. When the cage gets heated any old germs will be killed also. Remember something happened to the former ocupant of the cage. That's the finish that's on my cages, but they came that way. My African grey is not that bad with chewing on the cage, but the cockatoo uses her beak both to move around the cage ang also to pluck at the wires to make noise. Very noisey house. I don't know if having something powder coated is expensive or if all the old paint needs to be removed. Maybe the place that powder coats does both. Remember a new large cage is pricey.
Mary
Mom's nest

[Ira]

I too have parrots. I'm not so worried about how you will get the old paint off, but with what you will paint it with that's non toxic. I don't know if having something powder coated is expensive or if all the old paint needs to be removed. Maybe the place that powder coats does both. Remember a new large cage is pricey.
Mary
Mom's nest

He doesn't really chew the cage either, but I still want to use the right stuff. Powder cotaing has to be expensive because we're talking about all of those bars.

Yeah--I know the good, big cages are really pricey, and that's whyI want to do something with this one. It's not like one of those floor to head above your head hight macaw cages, but it's pretty dang big. Bigger enough than his current cage to want to put him in there if I can do it safely.

This bird's a pisser, and deserves the best.

He's known to say "bye bye" when I leave for work for quite awhile now, but last week, my younger son taught him to wave his leg while doing it.

[Catoosa Grani]

We bought an older motorhome with refrigerator shelves that didn't look so good. We took them all out and had them powdercoated and they looked great and worked great and wasn't very expensive . We would not have had it done if it had been expensive, it was a lot of wire. You might at least check out some places for price. Good luck!

Betty

[Ira]

We bought an older motorhome with refrigerator shelves that didn't look so good. We took them all out and had them powdercoated and they looked great and worked great and wasn't very expensive . We would not have had it done if it had been expensive, it was a lot of wire. You might at least check out some places for price. Good luck!

Betty

The only way it would be cheap here in South Florida is if retired New York Jews got into the powder-coating business.

But point well taken--I should ask around.

[Elumia]

Did the search for you. Most powder coaters should have a "burn off" oven to get rid of old finishes. find out what colors they run as standard and ask them to add yours to whatever fits for you otherwise they will typically add a set up fee. I bet they run black all the time.

Broward Powder Coating
(954) 255-1180

3810 Nw 126th Ave
Coral Springs, FL 33065

Mark

[Ira]

Did the search for you. Most powder coaters should have a "burn off" oven to get rid of old finishes. find out what colors they run as standard and ask them to add yours to whatever fits for you otherwise they will typically add a set up fee. I bet they run black all the time.

Broward Powder Coating
(954) 255-1180

3810 Nw 126th Ave
Coral Springs, FL 33065

Mark

GOOD MAN!!! THANKS!!!

They're just like 16 blocks from me!!!

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!