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How to Paint Metal Art at Home

Metal art requires specialized techniques and products to prepare the surface and preserve the final finish. Paints, pastes, lacquers are available with an almost endless list of ways to apply them. Anodized coatings, powder coat finishes and other process are also available for metal artwork. Finding the correct finish that enhances your artwork to its best effect may take time and consideration. You can do some of these finishes at home with a minimal amount of equipment and a small designated area for painting.

Things You'll Need

  • paint
  • protective lacquer
  • drop cloths or tarps
  • fans
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Instructions

  1. How to Paint Metal Art at Home

    • 1

      Set up your painting area. Painting at home requires that you take special precautions to keep the toxic fumes from invading your own home and those of your neighbors. You can paint in your garage or yard area, but have fans available to disperse the fumes from spray paint or strong-smelling lacquers. For heavy-duty projects you may need to set up a paint booth made of tarps or clear drop cloths to contain the excess spray and fumes. Dispose of all remaining paint at your municipal waste center and remove all painting equipment from the area after completing.

    • 2

      Prepare the metal for finishing. You must prepare the surface to accept the paint or the metal will not hold the paint for any length of time. This entails removing rust with a wire brush, removing surface oils or grease, and making sure all dust and debris from brushing or grinding is completely removed. If these substances are not removed, any additional finish will not hold to the metal, or it will show up under the paint application.

    • 3

      Use a good quality primer on the metal. You will need to prime the metal for it to be ready to accept the paint and to prevent corrosion of the metal surface. Self-etching primer is a good choice for this process because it contains a small amount of chemical that will roughen the surface of the metal enough to hold the paint. Allow the primer to dry for at least 24 hours before painting. You can also etch the metal with a solution of 50-50 percent vinegar and water. Allow to dry thoroughly, then spray with regular primer. Dry thoroughly.

    • 4

      Apply paint. Using either brush or spray, apply the paint in an even coat, avoiding drips and spatters. Allow to dry thoroughly. Apply a second coat if necessary, particularly if piece will remain outdoors.

    • 5

      Add protective coating. There are many kinds of protective coatings to finish your metal art piece. Urethane is a popular choice, and many types of lacquer are available. It is best to experiment with these protective coatings to find the best one that works for your metal artwork's conditions.

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Fine Art

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