skip to main content

Trash To Treasure

painting brass?

20 years ago

A friend gave us a full size brass bed- the brass is really tarnished and I tried cleaning it- but alas to no avail- unless you know trick- but the other glitch is the bed rails are on backwards so the bed sits on top of the rails instead of inside- so it will move if jumped or whatever- so I wanted to know since I am using it in my daughter room- can I paint it white? my friend was going to trash it and so there won't be any hurt feelings. but I would hate to ruin something too. Is there any way to check to makle sure I am not ruining a valuable- is brass valuable if it is not shining?

heather

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

gw:craftylady-2006
20 years ago
If you type in "brass refinihing" in your web browser line you will get web sites about just that, refinishing brass. There are several pages on the topic. If I were painting it, I would use a medium to make the paint stick first of all, then I would use enamel paint and give it a few coats of a sealant.
tasymo
20 years ago
Hi Heather
If you don't want to struggle to get ALL of the brass to shine, why not paint most of the bed, but leave a few select areas brass and polish those (knobs, spindles, etc.)
I've seen everything from acid baths (scarey) to ketchup (!!!) suggested on the web to shine tarnished brass. I'm sure there is something out there that will work for you. Good Luck!

Kathy
Related Discussions
painting 'brass' fire place doors
Q
Comments (1)
Good! The real test will be when you get it good and fired up. I read somewhere that move stove/insert stores sell spray paint for touch up on stoves, FYI.
...See More
Painting brass. Have questions.
Q
Comments (0)
I have an old brass bed that I am going to paint black for my daughter's room. Can anyone give me tips? Will I have to prime it or can I just do 2 coats of black spray right on it? Should I clean it with something first? Thanks, beache
...See More
painting Baldwin Brass lamps
Q
Comments (2)
I think you are not getting responses because it's hard to imagine spray painting solid brass. The cheap imitations, yes, spray away. But if I were you, I would put the lamps aside, go to Goodwill, and for a few dollars get a couple cheap lamps and spray them black. But to answer your question, clean the lamps of any dirt and grime, tape off anything you don't want the paint to land on, and then apply the spray paint.
...See More
painting brass lampshade spider fitting?
Q
Comments (0)
Can you? I need black or very dark brown, but brass seems to be the norm. What paint would I use?
...See More
new2gardenfl
20 years ago
Someone gave me a brass bed off freecycle.org. It was one of the brass beds that were so popular in the 80's.
I lightly sanded it and primed it with kilz spray paint.

I then spray painted it an antique gold and sponged bronze paint on it. It turned out great. I didn't seal it because I wanted it to look old and it won't see a lot of abuse in my guest bedroom.

I hope this is helpful.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Hot Color Combo: Cool Blues and Warm Brass

By Laura Gaskill

It's trending all over, but navy or royal blue with brass or gold just also might become a new classic pairing

SHOP HOUZZ Houzz Products: Luxuriate in New Looks for Warm Brass

Add the muted tones of vintage brass to your modern metal mix

REMODELING GUIDES Room of the Day: Brass Warms a Brownstone Bathroom

By Becky Harris

Forget trends. This owner chose unlacquered brass and repurposed pieces for love alone

Brass Beds Flash Back Onto Design Radar

By Shawn Gauthier

Awake again after a long slumber in design land, brass beds are adding shine to bedrooms from romantic to rustic

DECORATING GUIDES Brass and Gold Accents Make a Comeback

By Jen L'Italien

Warm metals can be the perfect pick for vintage-modern spaces

By Janell Beals - House of Fifty

MATERIALS Brace for Brass: How This Warm Metal Can Boost Your Bathroom

By Toronto Interior Design Group

See what to mix with this trendy alloy, how to keep it from showing water spots and more

PAINTING What to Know About Milk Paint and Chalk Paint — and How to Use Them

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Learn the pros, cons, cost and more for these two easy-to-use paints that are great for giving furniture a vintage look

DECORATING GUIDES 6 Decorating Duos to Consider Now

By Rafael F. Bermejo

Mustard, brushed brass, geometrics and more: Learn how to mix and match this year’s design trends like a pro

REMODELING GUIDES Interior Brick: Paint it or Leave It?

Here's how to know if covering that brick is a sin or solution

Sponsored

Structural Remodeling

Franklin County's Heavy Timber Specialists | Best of Houzz 2020!

More Discussions

Experience with PlayerBoost

0