Acrylic brass paint (aerosol). Options for aging metal by decorative painting Paint for metal like brass

You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

Painting is a great way to improve and bring something to life. However, things are not so simple when it comes to items made of brass, such as lamps, fasteners and other products. However, brass can also be painted: the secret is to properly clean the surface and apply a primer before painting. As a result, the paint will lay in an even, even layer, adhere well to the metal and retain its original appearance longer.

Steps

Part 1

Prepare the surface

Separate the part if necessary. Some brass items, such as doorknobs, water taps, and hardware, are easier to paint when separated from the attachment point. There are also isolated items such as furniture, cutlery or lamps.

If you have detached any screws, nails, or other fasteners, save them so that you can reattach the removed part after painting.
It is also advisable to check if the part you are interested in is actually made of brass. To do this, bring a magnet to it. Brass is a non-ferrous alloy and does not contain iron, so it will not be attracted to the magnet.

Move the item to a well-ventilated area. Painting should be done in a well-ventilated area such as a garage or room with wide open windows. This will protect you from harmful fumes. Also, wear a gauze bandage.
- To protect the floor from paint, place an unnecessary rag on the floor. Place the brass item on a rag, desk, or bench.
- Before you start painting, open the windows and turn on the ventilation so that harmful fumes do not accumulate in the room.
- When painting, protect yourself with a gauze bandage, gloves, goggles, or similar.
- Take care not to scatter dust around the room.
Scrub the item with steel wool. One of the most important steps when painting brass is to properly clean the surface. This will remove dirt and corrosion and the paint will adhere better to the surface. Wipe the entire surface with steel wool and pay special attention to corroded and heavily soiled areas.
- After scrubbing dirt and corrosion off the surface of the part, wipe it off with a damp, lint-free cloth.
- The paint adheres better to rough surfaces, so steel wool can be used. Do not rub brass with steel wool unless you intend to paint it.
Clean the surface with a degreaser. Remove grease, dirt and grime from metal surfaces before painting. If grease, dirt and soot remain on the brass, the paint will not adhere well to the metal. Dampen a lint-free cloth with degreaser and wipe the entire surface you intend to paint. Then wipe the metal with a clean cloth dampened in water and wait about 10 minutes for it to dry.

Part 2
Apply primer and paint
1. Choose an appropriate color for spray paint. The paint should be suitable for metal: enamel, acrylic or oil paint, or other paints that dry out to form a hard coating will do. Typically, metal paints are available as aerosols, although liquid paints are also available commercially.
  - Do not use latex paints, as they do not adhere well to metal and are short-lived. Latex paint will only work if you have a high quality primer.
2. Apply a coat of primer. For brass, a reactive or bonding primer is best. This primer is a mixture of acid and zinc and adheres better to brass than any other paint or primer. Shake the can of primer well and bring it to the metal surface 15–20 centimeters. Spray the primer in a sweeping motion from side to side. Apply the primer in a thin, even layer.
  
  Apply several thin coats of paint. After the primer has dried, spray the paint in the same way. Shake the can and apply paint in sweeping strokes from side to side. To spray the paint in a thin, even layer, hold the can at a distance of 15–20 centimeters from the surface.
3. Apply a transparent protective coat. Once the paint is completely dry (usually takes about 24 hours), a clear top coat can be applied. This will protect the paint and metal surface and give it an extra shine. Choose a clear or enamel finish specifically designed for metal.
  - Shake the can and bring it 15–20 centimeters to the surface. Spray the coating in even strokes to get an even layer.
  - Set the part aside and wait until it is completely dry (follow the manufacturer's instructions). Protective coatings usually dry fairly quickly, sometimes in as little as 30 minutes.

Metal products are subject to the influence of the external environment and especially humidity. Metal can be protected using special anti-corrosion coatings (for example, by covering the surface with zinc), as well as painting. The paint performs not only the role of a protector against corrosion, but also gives the surface a more aesthetic appearance.

Decorative painting of metal allows you to simulate a wide variety of effects. For example, you can decorate the surface in bronze, silver, or give the metal an aged noble look. How to choose a paint and varnish material, prepare a base and apply paint to it, will be discussed below.

Surface preparation

First of all, you need to assess the strength of the old coating. Masking tape will help with this: we make cuts in the old paint and glue the tape on these places. Then, with a sharp movement, we tear off the tape. If a significant amount of paint comes off after the tape, the surface is not strong enough. If the layer is strong, then it is not necessary to remove it, it is only necessary to clean the metal from dirt, traces of rust and dust.

Note! If we are talking about heating radiators, it is imperative to remove the old paint, because in this case, each additional layer reduces the heat output.

Surface cleaning (metal, walls, etc.) can be carried out in one of three ways:

mechanical (using abrasives or tools);
chemical (using alkaline compounds or active solvents);
thermal (using a hot air gun or an oxygen-acetylene torch).

Padding

Surface treatment with a primer is necessary to create a secure bond between metal and paint. Primers are made on the basis of synthetic or natural film-forming substances (organic resins, drying oils, etc.).

An important property of primers is to reduce the likelihood of corrosion. Mechanisms for providing anti-corrosion protection differ depending on the type of primer.

There are several types of primers according to the nature of their anti-corrosion properties:

Insulating. Such primers do not allow moisture to enter the protected metal.
Passivating. The action of passivating compounds is based on a decrease in the electrochemical activity of the material.
Protective. Such primers contain highly dispersed metal powders, whose electrode potential is lower than that of the metal to be protected. This provides protection against corrosion.
Phosphating. The phosphate coating protects the metal from corrosion.
Inhibitory. An inhibitor is a substance that slows down the rate of development of chemical reactions. Since rust formation is the result of a chemical reaction, inhibiting primers reduce the rate at which corrosive processes develop.
Rust converters. Rust converters transform iron oxide into an insoluble compound.

The primer is applied with a brush, roller, swab or spray bottle. The primer layer should not be too thick - thinner than subsequent layers of paint. The optimum thickness of the primer is up to 0.1 millimeter.

If the primed surface is matte, it must be carefully cleaned with fine-grained sandpaper. This will improve the quality of adhesion to the paint and varnish material.

Puttying is necessary to eliminate defects such as cracks, as well as to level the surface. Composition for filling is a mixture that includes filler (chalk), plasticizer, binder, special additives.

Application of different putties

Putty mixtures are sold in one of two states - dry (diluted in water) and ready-to-use (diluted in a solvent). The putty is applied and spread over the surface with a spatula.

Choosing paint for metal

For painting metal surfaces, solvent-borne paints and varnishes are most often used. Such solutions are a mixture of synthetic alkyd resins and organic solvents. White spirit or styrene is most often used as the latter.

After drying alkyd compounds, thick, strong, transparent, almost colorless films appear. Such films are resistant to all kinds of chemicals, as well as moisture. Thanks to the latest quality, alkyds are widely used not only indoors, but also outside buildings.

However, when choosing a composition, you should pay attention to the recommended purpose of the paint. For example, for coloring batteries, special compositions are produced that have high thermal conductivity and at the same time do not reduce the heat transfer of the equipment.

For a long time, painting has not been applied to forged metal. There was a common belief that paint negates the advantage of manual work, hiding the natural texture of the material.

However, not so long ago, paints and varnishes for forged products appeared, which make it possible to artificially age the material, create the appearance of a patina, or achieve other visual effects. Also blacksmith paints protect metal from corrosive processes.

The main disadvantage is their cost. Like the creation of forged products, specialized paints cannot be called cheap.

Metal painting

You can apply paint with a brush, roller or spray gun. The number of layers required for painting is set by the manufacturer and depends on the hiding power of the paint. Hiding power is the ability of a paint and varnish material to hide the color of the treated surface. The hiding power indicator is inversely proportional to the transparency of the paint and varnish material, that is, the more transparent the paint, the more it will be needed.

Note! The spreading rate is indicated on the package with paint and is determined in the consumption of material per square meter.

Difficulties can arise when calculating the required amount of paint and varnish material. Manufacturing companies provide information on consumption per square meter. When it comes to painting flat surfaces, it is not difficult to calculate the consumption. However, we often have to deal with uneven surfaces - lattices, fences, figured details, etc. In such cases, the calculations will have to be based on your own experience or the advice of the seller.

Surface decoration in bronze has been used for a long time. However, until recently, such paints were made on the basis of organic matter. Thus, the scope of use of such paints and varnishes was significantly narrowed due to the unpleasant odor characteristic of organic solvents. In addition, such surfaces are not resistant to temperature extremes.

Today, the most popular paints are based on water and acrylic. Such compositions are distinguished by safety, ease of use, resistance to high and low temperatures, as well as anti-corrosion resistance.

There are two ways to decorate the surface in bronze. Below are two step-by-step instructions.

The first option is monochromatic staining:

We remove dirt and traces of rust from the surface. We carry out degreasing.
We prime the surface. This will improve the adhesive properties of the materials and, in addition, create a polymer layer that protects the surface from corrosion.
When the primer is dry, apply in 2-3 coats. Moreover, each layer can be applied only after the previous one has dried.

The second option is aged bronze:

We carry out preparatory activities in the same way as described in the first case. Then we prime the metal and paint it bronze.
We treat the depressions on the surface with patina. It can be translucent - this will allow you to control the level of darkness.
When the paint is dry, take a dry brush and glaze. To do this, apply light paint on the corners and projections in such a way as to create the effect of scuffs.
After the layer has dried, we apply a transparent varnish to the metal.

You can give the metal an aged look in another way, using craquelure primer and paint.

Instructions:

We clean the metal from dirt, traces of rust and grease.
We cover the cleaned and dry surface with paint and varnish material. For staining, we use a brush, since an uneven coating in this case is only beneficial.
When the paint is completely dry, apply a craquelure primer. This composition can be purchased at a hardware store. After drying, a transparent polymer film will appear on the surface.
We create the main craquelure coating. The result of the work is aged metal with traces of rust. Moreover, small cracks will appear on the surface - craquelures.

Coloring and low temperatures

Recommends to paint surfaces at positive temperatures. It is believed that the minimum allowable temperature is 5 degrees above zero. However, there are situations when you need to paint the surface urgently, despite the thermometer readings. And in this case, high-quality staining is possible, if you adhere to a number of recommendations, which will be discussed below:

We clean the surface from ice, dust, dirt, rust and condensation. Moreover, standard cleaning procedures - mechanically - in this case will not be enough. Even if only a little condensation remains, all further efforts will not allow you to create a quality coating. To dry the surface well, we use a burner (gas or gasoline) or a heat gun.
At low temperatures, the paint will dry 2-3 times longer. Based on this, it is necessary to protect the painted surface from the effects of the external environment. For this, a plastic wrap and a heat gun are suitable.

It is equally important for dyeing at low temperatures - to choose the right paint. Jelly-like alkyd enamels are considered the best option. Such compositions are distinguished by high adhesive qualities.

When painting metal products, two goals are pursued: protection against the formation of corrosive areas and giving the metal an aesthetic appearance. Introducing the last task, sometimes it is necessary to cover the surface in 2-3 layers. But painting may not always be the end result. Sometimes metal products need to be given original decorative effects, for example, the look of an aged object. For this, special technologies are used. Let's try to figure out how to paint semi-antique metal and what is required for this.

The effect of aged metal can be achieved using the main method - aging through patina and the formation of abrasions. Patina is applied with special paints, but it is for metal that metallized acrylic-based compositions are often used. In stores today, a wide range of such paints is presented, in addition to the decorative function, they also perform a protective task.

You can choose from acrylic paints for aged metal, namely:

brass;
bronze;
copper;
gold.

Thanks to modern technologies, the aged effect can be given not only to metal surfaces. Often, such painting is performed on plastic, wood and plaster products.

The aging process ends with the application of a finishing protective layer. To do this, they often use:

acrylic-based varnish, which has a high degree of gloss;
very durable polyurethane-based varnish with a gloss level of up to 50%;
lacquer on a polyurethane base with a matte effect.

How to age metal yourself?

The choice of the method for creating an interior style, which assumes the presence of traces of antiquity in the design, is quite wide. For connoisseurs of this style, it is not always affordable to purchase real old items. The way out of this situation is to imitate ancient metals. How to properly paint semi-antique metal with your own hands? Staining is carried out in stages:

Surface preparation for painting. We get rid of dirt, rust and traces of grease by grinding and solvent treatment.
Metal priming. In this way, we achieve the formation of roughness on the surface for better adhesion of the paint. We choose a special primer for metal.
Application of the selected metallized paint. Experts advise to carry out the process with a regular brush, so aging is achieved in the best way.
Aging stage. When the paint dries, we cover the surface with a special craquelure varnish. It is after this step that the metal object is covered with cracks, which create the effect of an old product.

Important! If non-metallic surfaces are processed, then it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of a primer composition to achieve reliable adhesion with metallized paints.

In the video: a master class on applying patina to forged metal.

Painting under bronze

In the old days, many items were made of bronze. Therefore, painting products for bronze will help to decorate the interior of the house in the old style. There are several technologies for coating metal with bronze. Let's consider the simplest options.

Giving a solid color effect

You can perform a monochromatic bronze coating of metal as follows:

First of all, we clean the old surface from dirt and rust. To do this, you need to clean it with sandpaper, and then degrease it.
To increase the adhesion of the dye to the surface, we perform the priming process on metal. In addition to adhesion, the primer will help to further protect the product from corrosion.
At the final stage, we proceed to painting with paint in bronze. It is necessary to apply 2-3 coats evenly. But each subsequent layer is applied only after the previous one has completely dried.

Achieving the effect of antique bronze

Antique decorative painting with a bronze effect is suitable for lovers of rare things. To do this, follow these steps:

A preliminary preparation of the old surface is carried out according to the same rules as in the previous case. Also, do not forget to cover the product with a primer.
After priming, one coat of paint similar to bronze is applied to the surface. It is desirable that the composition is applied evenly, but for the effect of antiquity it is better to use a brush.
After drying, the bronze painted surface is covered with a patina (paint of a darker color). It is applied to the grooves. Experts advise using a translucent patina. This allows the shade of the bronze finish to be adjusted.
The next stage is glazing, that is, processing with a brush that is barely moistened with light paint. The process is carried out on all protruding edges and corners. This aging method allows you to give the product the effect of abrasion, which usually appears on metal over the years.
Then we wait for a while, letting the applied materials dry completely, and finally cover the product with transparent varnish.

Antique brass painting

Textured metallized compounds can transform a piece, giving it a brass look. The processing technology is almost the same as those provided above. The surface is pre-cleaned, sanded and degreased. For aging, the technique of decorative painting under brass is used.

The application process is carried out as follows:

Before applying decorative paint, the old coating is removed from the product. To do this, you can use a metal brush or sandpaper.
The key to durability and reliability of painting is the primer. Use a compound specifically designed for metal.
Brass paint is applied to the surface in one layer. The resulting coating can be aged by painting with craquelure. Burnt umber will help to enhance the effect, which is applied very carefully using a dry cloth. If surpluses have formed in the process of work, then they must be removed even before the substance dries.
Finally, the surface of the painted and aged part is covered with a glossy acrylic varnish.

As you can see, design antiquity is achieved in simple ways. When doing work with your own hands, paints help to get the desired result, which create the necessary effect of a bronze, brass, copper surface.

We offer painting with metallized paints:

Brass look;
Under bronze;
Copper;
Gold;
Aged metal;

One of the services of our workshop is painting various products with imitation of natural metals with a patina and aging effect. The technology makes it possible to apply metallized paint to almost all types of surfaces: metal, plastic, wood, plaster.

samples of painting under brass

When choosing the required painting option, you can be guided by the samples presented in our production. It is also possible to select paint according to the customer's sample.

The quality of the topcoat is provided by the varnish:

high gloss acrylic car varnish;
high strength polyurethane gloss varnish;
matt polyurethane varnish with a gloss step from 5 to 50%

To create an aging effect, we use a patina on solvents. The patina is applied over the base coat of paint and, using various abrasive sponges, a sanding effect is created in different directions.

Painting the heated towel rail "under brass".

painting chrome surface heated towel rail for brass brass plating

Heating radiator painting for brass.

bimetallic radiator
radiator painting under brass
finishing layer - glossy varnish

Below in the photo is the painting of the bathroom fittings "in bronze" with the patina effect. Covering with glossy varnish.

painting products in bronze color finishing layer - acrylic varnish antique bronze finish

The chrome plating is removed before painting.

repainting chrome in bronze priming painting fittings in bronze

Chrome-plated handles in antique bronze.

painting door handles in bronze antique bronze handles finishing varnish

Painting installations, drain buttons.
The photo shows samples of painting with the effect of "Antique brass" under a glossy and matte varnish.

drain buttons for brass painting buttons for brass
repainting the button in brass (glossy varnish)

Grohe button painted in brass

GEBERIT button before painting

the button is painted in brass (matt lacquer)

Painting the shower cabin "antique brass".
Initially, the cab details were chrome-plated, anodized aluminum profiles.

painting of aluminum profiles
details after painting
painting of a shower cabin under brass

Painting of trade equipment in brass color.

work in the spray booth
surface for old brass
shop equipment after painting

Sink painting in bronze.
An excellent example of the durability and strength of polyurethane clear varnish is the painting of mechanically stressed items such as kitchen sinks. The sink is constantly exposed to mechanical stress. The varnish applied to the surface in three layers and fully polymerized (after painting up to 10 days) perfectly withstands all loads.

washing before painting priming painting the sink in bronze

Repainting of decorative caps for a lantern in aged bronze.
To protect the street lighting fixtures, we have custom-made decorative caps for our customer. The products were originally white. Vain attempts to spray paint resulted in damage to the product. We had to grind the product, apply a primer insulator to prevent the first layers from undermining. Then the item was painted in an old bronze look and covered in 2 layers with matte polyurethane varnish.

product before painting painting - antique bronze finishing layer - matte varnish

Copper painting
The metal housings of lamps for the restaurant were painted.

metal lamp painting under copper
copper colored luminaire

Painting of parts of the rotary stand for "antique brass".
By order of the Petersburg Doors company, the elements of the trade equipment were painted to resemble antique brass. The parts of the turntable were pre-cleaned and primed. They are painted using the technology with decorative polishing. Acrylic car lacquer has an excellent gloss level and is reasonably stable.

products in the spray booth painting products under brass glossy varnish coating

To change the texture and give interior items a noble look, special paints are increasingly used to obtain the effect of a "metallic" surface.

Metallic paints are available in a wide range of colors and can imitate the shade of almost any metal. The finished surface takes on the color of brass, bronze, copper or gold, and additional processing with craquelure varnish gives the household items a unique antique look.

Advantages of metallized paints:

Large selection of shades. You can get the effect of bronze, brass, copper or other metal.
Used for external and internal work, wall decoration. They do not contain harmful substances and toxins.
They are durable and will not fade over time.
Painting products in wet rooms.

Such textured paints are used to decorate the interior and decorate various household items, including furniture, picture frames, candlesticks, etc. Interesting solutions can be obtained by finishing plumbing fixtures, mirror frames or other separate interior elements.

Metallized paint can be used to cover a fireplace, stucco or part of the wall, while the painted surface will emphasize both the classic style and perfectly complement the design in retro style or ultra-modern high-tech.

Application technology

If metallized paint is applied to interior items or furniture, then it is necessary to remove the old coating in advance. Before finishing, the surface should be cleaned of possible dirt and a primer should be applied. The key to the durability of painted products, first of all, is the use of correct, high-quality primers for various surfaces: for Plast Prime plastic and Acid 8 for metal.

The selected composition is applied in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, usually one layer is sufficient to obtain the desired effect. A metal-look design element can be left shiny or given an antique look with craquelure. The characteristic cracks that appear during the drying process of such a varnish will artificially age the treated surface.

The resulting effect can be emphasized with burnt umber, which is carefully applied to dry fabrics. Excess should be removed until the composition is completely dry, and, if desired, cover the finish "like metal" with a layer of varnish.

Painting metal in bronze is able not only to protect the material from the effects of excessive moisture, contributing to the appearance and spread of corrosion, but also to give its appearance a fair amount of wealth and solidity.

To do such work is available to any person who has the necessary desire and a sufficient amount of time. We will consider the subtleties of this process in this article.

Choosing the right solution

Any paint for bronze had an organic solvent in its structure for a long time. Its presence contributed to the spread of an unpleasant specific odor, which significantly limited the scope of such solutions.

Nowadays, thanks to technological progress, water-soluble mixtures have appeared that contain natural metallic pigments. Acrylates act as binders in such solutions.

Water Based Bronze Paint

Acrylic bronze paint for metal has many advantages:

Ecological cleanliness and absence of any unpleasant odors. During the drying process, only water vapor is released.
Relatively low price. The use of H 2 O as a base makes it possible to make the production much cheaper, for example, of oil analogues.
Stunning non-ferrous metal look. It is also possible to apply it in a "semi-antique" way, which will create an even greater effect of naturalness.

Easy to use with your own hands. The application technology is not much different from the use of conventional paint and is quite feasible for an amateur.

Moisture insulation. Provides high quality protection against rust.

Advice: pre-applied electrically conductive paint Z inga will maximize the protection of iron from corrosion, as it will create a reliable thin-film galvanized layer.

High resistance to mechanical stress and ultraviolet radiation. For many years this finish will have its original appearance.
Long service life. With proper operation, at least ten years.

Advice: if there are many fire hazardous objects in the room, then it is recommended to additionally use fire-retardant paints for metal Polistil. They have the ability to foam when a fire breaks out, preventing its further spread.

Paint application

First of all, a thorough preparation of the surface is required, the main stage of which is the removal of traces of rust. If you apply paints and varnishes over places damaged by corrosion, then this will not protect the metal from premature destruction.

Preparatory work

The instruction is as follows:

Remove old paint and rust.

To do this, you can use one of the following methods:

Mechanical removal... A wire brush or abrasive discs are used. Suitable only for rough surface treatment.

Tip: be sure to get personal protective equipment before starting work. Metal dust, which will rise into the air during work, is incredibly harmful to the respiratory system and human mucous membranes.

Sandblasting equipment... High-pressure sand grains will do a great job on rust, scale and old paint, even in the most difficult to reach places. The only drawback is the relatively high cost of the device.

Chemical reagents... Pour the surface with a special compound that will chemically react with the old cladding and rust. After that, the remnants of the former coating are easily removed with a rag.

We clean the iron from all the resulting debris, regardless of which method of removal was used before
Apply a couple of coats of primer. This will increase the adhesion of the metal surface and create an additional polymer layer of moisture protection.

After the last layer of primer has completely solidified, you can proceed to the next stage.

Painting

In the first case, you will have a monochromatic coating.

For this:

We dilute the purchased mixture with water or white spirit according to the annotation attached to the bank.
For small, extreme and hard-to-reach parts we use brushes. Smooth areas are possible.

If necessary, after the first layer, apply another one to create a more saturated color.
We bring a bright light source to the applied finish. If no stains are observed, then the work is done with high quality, and you can enjoy the result.

If you want to create an aged, then you should paint in several layers:

First, apply a solid dark layer of metal or spray gun.