How to paint metal without spray paint. Metal can start to go downhill quickly as it ages because of rust, tarnish, and discoloration.
Thankfully, a new paint job can transform a dull piece of metal furniture into something bright and new, just like the day you first brought it home.
Before you get started with repainting metal furniture, though, it’s important that you follow these tips for preparing the surface so that your paint will last.
How to paint metal without spray paint
Before painting, it’s important to prep the surface by covering it with a coat of primer. Use short, slow strokes for even application. Allow at least 24 hours for the primer to dry, and then paint over it.
If your piece has intricate details that require precision, pay attention not to let the paint run into each other or pool, as this might lead to smudges and mistakes in the application later on.
Leave all tools that you aren’t using out of reach, so you don’t accidentally knock them over onto your work area while applying paint.
We want a clear, clean start, free of debris, so we can do our best work. This way, we know that what we see is exactly how it will look when completely dry or better still.
Try Painting Metal with a Brush
Anyone who has tried painting metal with a brush will tell you that they were not pleased with the results of their work.
Not only was it quite difficult to get an even coat of paint without getting brush strokes on the object where one wanted to apply paint.
But if one’s hand even started to shake at all as they applied the brush’s bristles, then the finish coat would become full of unattractive, uneven streaks.
So instead of trying to paint metal with a brush and failing miserably, many people just resort to spray-painting the thing, which allows them more time over planning and allows less room for error.
However, when applying a finished coat of paint to metal by hand, it is possible to skip some unnecessary steps in making it look pleasing and presentable.
1. Clean the metal thoroughly with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. Allow clean parts to dry for at least 5 minutes before applying the next coat of oil-based paint.
2. Pour oil-based paint into a 5-gallon bucket or a painter’s pail. If the container you are using is less than 5 gallons, fill the pail halfway.
3. If your oil-based paint seems too thick, add a splash of mineral spirits to thin it down. Mix the paint and spirits with a wooden stick to make sure that it’s thoroughly blended.
Add more mineral spirits if you want to dilute it further. Add more paint if you want to thicken the mixture.
4. Dip the tip of the paintbrush into a dab of paint, and then apply it carefully to the metal surface – don’t take too much.
Use just enough pressure to leave a mark, but not so much that you remove the coating of red enamel (it should resemble a blush).
5. Painting from left to right, apply a light coat of paint. Do not try to completely cover the metal on the first coat, as it will take 2 or 3 coats to achieve coverage.
Instead, simply lay down a base that helps you get through subsequent coats easily and quickly, avoiding drips or runs of uneven color.
6. Allow the metal to dry for one hour. Apply a second layer of enamel just as you did before, allowing it to dry for an hour. Continue applying layers until the metal is completely covered.
How to paint metal without spray paint
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