The iron bed in this photo was covered with layer upon layer of old lead base paint before it was sandblasted and readied for restoration and paint.
It’s often difficult, if not impossible to really see what detailing is under all the 150 to 200 years of paint, until they are sandblasted off. The beauty of antique iron beds, as oppose to reproductions is that they can be sandblast infinitely to eliminate age, rust and paint……..without hurting or altering the actual physical detailing from when the casting was poured in the foundry back in the 1800’s. Conversely ……. a reproduction can only withstand a very minimal blasting before the soft aluminum castings that all reproductions employ today, start wearing away the original detailing after the aluminum mold was poured. Sandblasting is the enemy of reproductions and the savior of the originals.
So if you’re just embarking on the restoration process with your bed……….Sandblasting is the first and best place to get the ball rolling. Those who tell you to have your bed chemically dipped or stripped or possibly steel wooled……..really need to stick to their “day job”, because they really don’t know what they’re talking about.
I hope you’ve found this blog informative . I invite you to revisit my website
to answer any and all questions you might have about antique iron beds.
I also invite you to take a look at our company Face Book page for multiple photo albums on Custom Finishes, Canopy Conversions and a comprehensive “Before & After” King Conversions album.
