Thursday, April 16, 2009

Ahh... The wonders of spray paint part 2


Once again my inspiration came from Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. She is a wiz with her spray paint. She had a blog post about using it on brass. Yes, brass!

Let's face it brass has lost it's value. The only bad thing is there were so many pieces and some rather cool designs that were made. I, like most I'm sure, always looked past it at garage sales. Jen didn't and I for one am glad she decided to give brass another look. I found these lovely treasures at the first garage sale of the season.



My husband looked at me like I was crazy when I said I wanted them. He certainly didn't want any brass up anywhere, I couldn't blame him before Jen's post I didn't either. I decided to give the spray paint a try, if it didn't work I would only be out $2 (for all 4 pieces!) the spray paint I would only lose a trivial amount. On the way home we picked up a can of lacquer spray paint, to me lacquer gives a much better result than a traditional paint. Plus, it is a very durable surface that bonds to metal fairly well. This is the end result.




Isn't it cute! I got some rather good looking white pieces out o the deal. The butterflies are going in my nieces bedroom, it has lots of butterflies all over the place. The key will go in a spot with family photos as it is a play on our last name. I hope to find lot of different key's all over the place this year.

A few tips if you are planning on doing this yourself.

1. Clean your piece well. I like to wash it in regular soapy water, then rub alcohol all over. The alcohol makes sure you dissolve anything the detergent might have left behind or missed.

2. Go over lightly with FINE sandpaper. And I do mean lightly, if you go to deep the scratches will show.

3. Go over with alcohol once more. It gets the dust off and makes sure there is no lasting residue to interfere with the paint sticking.

4. Just like in my door redo make sure to go cover lightly, drips can happen easily and they aren't pretty.

Leave to dry and you have a great looking brass piece that can stand the test of time!

This post is linked to Hooked On Houses, what are you hooked on?
For more great Works for me Wednesday tips head on over to We Are THAT Family.

14 comments:

  1. Nice work on the butterflies. An ex-neighbor gave us a set of corroding brass patio chairs when he moved away and we spray-painted them black. They look great but still as comfy as brass chairs can be.

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  2. I love the key! That looks really cool. Now you've given me something else to look for at the garage sales! (My husband does NOT thank you lol)

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  3. They look great, I bow to any type of PAINT! It works miracles.

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  4. You really gave those pieces new life! I never think about the light sanding and alcohol. Very fun!

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  5. I had never thought about painting brass decor before--I love this idea. Gotta look around and see what I can find to try this. Thanks for the inspiritation. And I love what you did to your front door!!! Have a great day!

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  6. That is a really great way to give new life to an outdated peiee. those butterflies would look so cute in my daughters room, I might have to look for some myself and paint them. Thanks for the instructions also.

    -R
    http://www.rorofusion.blogspot.com/

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  7. I love spray paint and have used it for many things, but I never thought to use it on brass. Now I will!

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  8. I love spray paint!!! I mean LOVE it! I'm looking at a lamp right now - he's going to get it tomorrow! It's plastic - haven't done that before. :)

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  9. looks great. i have actually be in a spray paint mood lately, and loving it. I know it isnt great for the environment but its so darn easy, its hard for me, but i do love it.

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  10. The butterflies are adorable! BTW, when you are finished painting, if you turn your paint can upside down and spray until a 'clear' mist comes out, you'll never, ever have a clogged sprayer.

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  11. So very cute. I love the key! Isn't spray paint just the greatest?!

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  12. Great job!! Spray paint is a fabulous fix-it.

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