Clean your frame with a damp cloth and allow it to dry. Use a primer to cover your frame. Patina solution may adhere well to a wooden picture frame; however, using a primer is especially helpful if you are covering a metal frame. Special primers may be necessary for galvanized metal or aluminum. Apply one coat of primer and allow to dry completely for approximately one or two days.
Follow the instructions on your antiquing solution package. This usually means shaking or stirring the product prior to applying it to the frame. This ensures that any metal particles will be well distributed. If it is a valuable frame, you should test a small area before applying the patina solution on the entire frame. If you don't like the effect with a brush, you can try using a rag or sponge to apply the solution.
Pour a small amount of aging finish into a disposable container and use the solution in the container. Avoid dipping your brush directly into the bottle. Never put unused solution back into the product bottle. You don't want the patina solution to become contaminated or it might oxidize in the can or bottle.
Apply a coat of metal surfacer to the frame if it is a metal one. Allow to dry completely before applying a coat of patina solution. Apply a coat of patina solution onto a wooden frame using a foam brush. Be sure to get into any nooks and crannies in an elaborate frame. Apply a heavy coat for a darker finish or apply a light coat and then follow with a second coat for a lighter finish.
Allow to dry completely about three days before applying a clear sealant. A coat of sealant will protect the finish from flaking or bleeding when it is exposed to skin, water or clothing. Any high-quality acrylic primer will do the job or a solvent-based sealer. Avoid using a urethane-based sealer because the acids and salts in the patina solution may cloud and eat through urethanes.