Know your finish
How you look after a piece depends on how it was finished. Hot-dip galvanising gives long-term protection to gates and structures that face the weather. Painted ironwork relies on the paint staying unbroken. Hand-applied wax or oil is a soft, natural finish best suited to interiors, and it deepens over time.
If you are not sure what finish your ironwork has, ask whoever made it. For pieces I have made, just get in touch and I will tell you.
Simple checks once a year
Walk round your gates and railings once a year, ideally after winter. Look for chipped or flaking paint, rust spots, especially at the bottom of uprights and where metal meets stone or the ground, loose fixings, and gates that have started to drop or catch.
Wash off dirt and grime with warm, mildly soapy water and a soft brush, then let it dry. Keep plants and soil from piling up against the ironwork, because trapped damp is what starts rust.
Touching up and protecting
Deal with chips in paint early. Lightly clean back any loose rust with a wire brush, prime the bare metal, then touch up with a paint suited to metal outdoors. Small, regular touch-ups save a full strip and repaint later.
Give gate hinges and latches a little oil or grease so they move freely and are not forced. For waxed or oiled interior pieces, wipe them over with a fresh coat of wax or oil when they start to look dry.
When to call a blacksmith
Call someone in if you find cracks, broken welds, joints that have worked loose, rust that has eaten through rather than sitting on the surface, a gate that has dropped badly, or decorative sections that have snapped or gone missing.
Not everything needs replacing. A good repair costs less, keeps the original and is often stronger than it was. I repair historic ironwork, including re-forging missing sections to match the original, and take on welding and repair work for domestic, commercial, industrial and heritage clients.
Send me a photo and a few words about what has gone wrong, by WhatsApp or text on 07593 325089, and I will tell you honestly what can be done.
My Etsy shop
Little pieces from the forge, delivered to your door
Between the big commissions, I forge smaller pieces for my Etsy shop: wands, handles, hooks and stands. Rated 4.9 from 40 reviews. Never settle for off the shelf: if you want something made your way, just ask me.
Best sellers
His work is art.William, Etsy, December 2025View on Etsy
Customer favourites
The anvil is perfect and beautifully shaped - fantasticNorbert, Etsy, September 2026View on Etsy Wand, sword and knife display standA hand forged steel stand with a patterned finish, to show off your favourite piece.
Beautiful item and craftsmanship is awesome.Shaik, Etsy, September 2025View on Etsy
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
Are you insured?
Yes, I am fully covered by public liability insurance.
How often should I check my iron gates and railings?
Once a year is a good habit, ideally after winter, plus a quick look whenever you notice chipped paint or a gate starting to catch.
Can old or historic ironwork be repaired?
Often, yes. I carefully repair historic ironwork, including re-forging missing sections to match the original. Send me a photo and I will tell you what can be done.
Do you repair gates and railings you did not make?
Yes. I take on welding and repair work for domestic, commercial, industrial and heritage clients, from gates and railings to historic ironwork.