I've used one of those high-temp rust-resistant sprays on my grill stand, and honestly, it held up way better than I expected. Been through a couple summers now, lots of heat cycles, and no peeling or flaking yet. But to be fair, prep work matters a ton—if you don't clean and sand properly beforehand, even the best spray won't stick long-term. Might be worth a shot if you're tired of looking at rust spots...
I tried something similar on an old metal patio table a couple years back. Did the whole sanding and cleaning routine, then used a high-temp spray paint meant for grills and fire pits. Honestly, I was skeptical it'd hold up through winter, but it's still looking decent. A few tiny rust spots popped up around the edges where I probably skimped on prep, but overall way better than before. Definitely agree though—prep is like 90% of the battle with these sprays...
"Honestly, I was skeptical it'd hold up through winter, but it's still looking decent."
Yeah, prep really does make or break these projects. Did a similar thing last summer with an old chiminea we had kicking around. Thought I'd nailed the sanding and cleaning, but turns out I rushed the drying step a bit (got impatient, typical me). It looked great at first, but after a couple rains, some rust crept back around the base. Still way better than before though, and yours sounds like it's holding up solid.
Honestly, tiny rust spots are probably inevitable over time anyway—metal outdoors is always gonna fight you on that front. As long as you're not seeing major flaking or cracks near the heat source itself, you're probably golden safety-wise. Sounds like you did good work on yours... enjoy it!
"Honestly, tiny rust spots are probably inevitable over time anyway—metal outdoors is always gonna fight you on that front."
True, rust is pretty much a given outdoors, but if you're worried about safety and longevity, you might wanna consider coating it with a high-temp eco-friendly sealant. Did this with mine two years ago and it's still holding up great... plus fewer chemicals burning off into the air. Just something to think about if you're looking to keep things green and safe long-term.
"True, rust is pretty much a given outdoors, but if you're worried about safety and longevity, you might wanna consider coating it with a high-temp eco-friendly sealant."
Yeah, I get the logic behind the sealant, but does it really hold up under constant heat exposure? I've seen some products claim they're eco-friendly and heat-resistant, but after a few months of regular use they start peeling or discoloring. Curious if anyone else has had similar experiences... I'd hate to spend extra money on something that doesn't last.
