• Spray painting steel can be a very messy project and the area that you spray in must be protected.spray image by Dragana Petrovic from Fotolia.com
  
  Spray paint gets a paint job done faster than regular brushed-on paint, plus it has the added benefit of not leaving any uneven ridges and stroke marks. If you want to paint steel, this is especially good, as a smooth, perfect paint coating can make the finish look like a professional did it. Yet, spray paint by its very nature can be messy and the proper location and preparation of your location is essential to keeping things under control.
  
  

Open Space

• Even if you are wearing a mask, you still want to spray paint your steel in a place that has good ventilation. Large rooms can do the trick, but an even better bet is the outdoors itself. The garage is a good compromise if you open the door, giving you lots of space and very good ventilation at the same time as shade and cover from any passing rainstorms.
  
  

Protection

• Whether you opt to spray paint in your garage, in your yard or in a large room, you will want to protect the surfaces that you will be spraying near. Remove any items from the immediate area that you don't want to be misted with dots of spray paint. Lay down a large area tarp over the flooring or ground to not only prevent paint from coating the area, but also because of the metal dust and shavings, as well as rust, that will come off during the scrubbing and sanding process before the painting.
  
  

Walls

• Choose a location far from any walls, regardless of whether you choose an area that is indoors or outdoors. If this isn't possible for you and you must paint by a wall, tack or tape a double layer of sheets or thick paper to the walls to protect them from any paint mist.