Okay, so I got this idea stuck in my head – I needed a red watering can. Don’t ask me why, sometimes these things just happen. Looked around, couldn’t find one I really liked, or they were flimsy plastic things. Then I remembered that old metal can sitting in the back of the shed, looking all sad and rusty.
Getting Started
First job was dragging it out. It was worse than I remembered – bit dented, proper rust patches, covered in cobwebs. Gave it a good wash with soap and water, scrubbed off the worst of the grime. That took a while, honestly. More dirt than can, almost.
Next up, dealing with the rust. Had some sandpaper lying around, different grits. Started with a coarse one to get the flaky bits off, then moved to a finer one to smooth things out a bit. Didn’t need it perfect, just needed the paint to stick. Wiped it all down with a damp cloth afterwards to get rid of the dust. Let it dry completely out in the sun for an afternoon.
The Painting Bit
Right, paint. I wanted a specific kind of red, like a classic fire engine red. Went down to the local hardware store. Found a spray paint can, looked about right. Said it was suitable for metal. Grabbed some primer too, just in case. Figured it was worth doing properly if I was going to bother.
- Cleaned the can thoroughly.
- Sanded down the rust and rough spots.
- Wiped off all the dust.
- Let it dry.
Put down some old newspaper outside – didn’t want red spots all over the patio. Shook the primer can like crazy, then gave the watering can a light coat all over. It looked patchy and weird, but that’s normal for primer. Let that dry for an hour or so, whatever the can said.
Then, the main event: the red paint. Shook that can even more. Started spraying. Nice, light, even strokes, back and forth. Didn’t want to put too much on at once or it would drip. That’s always the tricky part with spray paint. Got the first coat on. Looked okay, a bit thin in places. Left it to dry completely, maybe a few hours.
Came back later, gave it a second coat. That made a big difference. Much deeper, more solid red. Covered all those thin patches. Got into all the nooks and crannies, around the handle and the spout. Made sure to get the bottom edge too.
Finished Product
Left it overnight to properly harden. Next morning, went out to check. Looked pretty good! Nice and bright red, just like I wanted. The finish wasn’t factory perfect, you could see a few bumps from the old metal underneath if you looked close, but who cares? It had character.
Filled it up with water, gave the plants a drink. No leaks. Job done. It’s just a watering can, nothing fancy, but doing it myself felt pretty satisfying. Plus, now I have my bright red watering can sitting on the porch, looks much better than that rusty old thing.
