Today I am going to show you my method for painting metal thrift store finds. I've found there are three steps that are most important when spray painting metal.
1: Make sure you clean the item thoroughly. I always use a homemade cleaning solution and paper towels and I scrub, then let dry. I don't always sand metal objects, unless they are shiny or have a coating, but I always clean very well.
2: Apply at least two thin coats of a spray primer intended for use on metal. As always, I prefer Krylon, but I have used Rustoleum with good results also. If your piece is rusty, I would choose the latter.
3: Again, make sure your paint is labeled for use with metals, and multiple thins coats are the key to have smooth, even coverage without drips or bubbling.
Today's selection is a old brass magazine rack:
And I honestly have no idea what this is:
I plan on using it to hold some of my jewelry.
First both items got a good scrub down, then two thin coats of primer.
After priming the necklace holder, I was intending on painting it "Oil Rubbed Bronze". However, I like it gray so much, I decided to leave it! I tried to google if I could use only primer instead of primer + paint, and I couldn't find an answer! So in a way, this will be an experiment! If the finish doesn't hold, it will be fixed as easily as a new coat of paint!
I love how it looks holding my favorite pieces!
On to the magazine rack. Since I saw it in the store it was calling to me to be painted blue, so I picked out this lovely shade from my favorite brand:
It took three coats, and let me tell you, I was twisting my hand and the rack all over the place trying to get all the angles covered!(Tip: always paint the bottom part of your item first, and then flip over and paint the top)
Here is the finished result! I'm loving this gorgeous aqua shade!
One more before/after:
What a change!
Awesome. Krylon Ocean Breeze, that's my go to color. My issue is even coverage, and having the patience to let the thing dry between coats. I have these two folding chairs I started over the summer and they're still folded up, unused because I felt like they just need more and more paint, no matter how much I spray. Maybe it's time to try 'em again.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it such a beautiful aqua blue? And I think Rustoleum has better, thicker coverage, but they don't have as many awesome colors as Krylon. And I love Krylon's nozzles. I do find that using a gray primer with the lighter colors helps with even color. Let me know how your chairs turn out!
DeleteWorking on painting an old gold mirror my mother-in-law left behind, my question to you guys is what's the difference between using a white primer or gray primer?
DeleteLove the color! Quick question what's the difference between using a grey primer and a white primer?
ReplyDeleteHi Monica,
DeleteThere really isn't a huge difference between white and gray primers. I typically use gray when I'm either covering up a dark color, or if I am painting with a dark or vibrant color. If you are using a light paint color I would go with white because it will keep the color true. But mostly, I just use whatever I happen to have on hand. Hope that helps, happy painting!