This is how I spray paint the hardware that I reuse on the pieces that I paint.
What you need:
Sanding block
Cleaner, degreaser
Spray Paint for metal
Box
Old Hardware
1. Sand the glossy hardware with your sanding block or use a wire brush.
2. Clean. When cleaning your hardware, make sure you wear gloves as most cleaners are harsh. I have denatured alcohol in my stash. I use old t-shirts and the denatured alcohol to remove grease and grime build-up from the hardware.
3. Read the instructions on your spray paint and follow carefully. One mistake that I’ve made is not shaking the can enough. Be sure to SHAKE the paint vigorously!
4. I have found that spray painting small objects in a box is like a miniature spray booth.
Sand and Clean. You can clean with soap and water, be sure to let it dry completely.
I love the little pineapples on this hardware. I knew I had to re-use it.
I always spray the underneath side first.
I’m using the hardware on a grey piece, so I chose matte nickel color spray paint.
Here’s the first coat on the underneath side of the hardware.
Be sure to follow re-coating directions, this paint suggested one light coat followed by one wet coat.
I recoated before it was dry.
The paint dried to touch within 10 mins.
Ready for the first coat on the top side.
Here they are after the second coat.
The paint I used stated that it’s completely dry in 30 minutes.
This made it painless to paint both sides the same day.
Spray painting saved the old hardware!
Here’s what it looks like on the drawer. I really love the pineapple, I’ve never seen this design before.
The most important part of spray painting hardware is to follow the paint manufacturers directions,
not all spray paint is created equal. Make sure it is dry before attaching it to your finished piece.
Use spray paint responsibly and paint outside 🙂
Now see how I spray paint chairs:
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Ashley M says
May 2, 2019 at 10:13 pmHow do you spray paint the front of these without the pull handle sticking to the rest of the hardware while it’s drying? I spray paint hardware similar to these once and I tried to hold the pull handle up with toothpicks but they would either fall down or the spray paint would get smudged. Any tips would help!
maria says
May 9, 2018 at 9:49 pmNice look in white for those vintage knobs!
Maria
Bliss says
March 28, 2015 at 9:34 amI’m gonna have a little true confession right here on your blog……….. about 10 years ago I spray painted nightstand hardware right on the nightstand. I was too lazy to find a screwdriver to take the hinges off, so taped them up and sprayed them in place. Yes they looked like schmidt, do as Debbie does, not me!
Dianne Hurt says
January 19, 2014 at 12:00 amCorrection on the name sorry!
Dianne Hur says
January 18, 2014 at 11:59 pmI have a bedroom set with the pineapple design on the top drawer of each piece. I bought it in 1974 from a North Carolina furniture maker when we were married and it has served us well. I am getting ready to refinish the set and want to thank you for all the tips.
BobbynBethKendall says
April 14, 2013 at 11:33 pmLove the info, glad to see others putting old beauty back in use! Just a lil tip i have done alot od hardware refinishing, if you poke holes in the same locations as the screws into a piece of sturdy board, run the screws thru from the back & into the hardware just enough to hold it in place & hang them upside down you will be able to spray the whole peice @ 1 time. Also three medium coats work best for a lasting finish.
Sherry says
March 9, 2013 at 1:22 amBeautiful hardware, especially once you refinished it. It’s so much better. That pineapple detail is just darling! Pinned this for future reference. Hoping to get some painting projects done very soon 😉
Jacque says
February 21, 2013 at 2:28 pmGreat tutorial! I could have written a post on HOW not to paint it, this is so much better!
Debbie says
February 21, 2013 at 4:14 pmHa ha, thanks Jacque!
Helen says
February 21, 2013 at 11:42 amDebbie, that hardware is perfect for an old piece…pineapples are great art anyway! I had an ah-ha moment when you mentioned placing the small items in a box…yeah, love that idea. I must confess, that I’ve waited months to use spray paint for fear of getting it too thin or too thick. Thanks for this great tutorial.
Helen
Three Mango Seeds says
February 21, 2013 at 11:19 amI’ve never seen hardware like that with the pineapple, but I L.O.V.E them! {HUGS} Clydia
Debbie says
February 21, 2013 at 4:13 pmThanks Clydia!
Jordan@the2seasons says
February 21, 2013 at 9:33 amAh ha I have never sanded the hardware and I think that is the step I am missing. I notice the paint never sticks the way I would like, so thank you for showing us the right way to do this.
Gretchen@BoxyColonial says
February 20, 2013 at 10:51 pmI have a dresser to refinish right now, and I’m probably going to be painting the hardware…so thanks for the tips–yours look great 🙂
Inspire Me Heather says
February 20, 2013 at 10:13 amPretty little pulls Debbie – I do like them painted too!
LindyLouMacinItaly says
February 20, 2013 at 4:07 amA useful reminder and tips as this is the sort of info I need over the coming months as working on our house renovation project.
Heidi @ Decor & More says
February 19, 2013 at 2:14 pmGreat tips, Debbie! Love the pineapple, too. 🙂
xo Heidi
Susan says
February 19, 2013 at 6:46 amThose are beautiful handles! I soak my handles in ammonia and water overnight which removes all of the grime and coatings.. Super easy! Also I stick toothpicks in the handle holes to keep the handles elevated so I can paint it easier… just a couple of tips from me to you 😉 – Susan
Stephanie Jantz says
September 6, 2016 at 2:42 pmI have these exact drawer pulls and was planning on using the toothpicks as well. Great minds! 😉
Bethany @ A Fish Who Likes Flowers says
February 19, 2013 at 1:14 amThanks for sharing some really great tips! I’ll definitely have to give this a try!
holly says
February 18, 2013 at 10:21 pmDebbie…that makes so much sense to spray them in a box! Geez! I have paint over spray all over my garage. Thanks for the tip.
Jennifer says
February 18, 2013 at 10:18 pmThese are beautiful! I don’t think I would have picked up those handles but you really saw the beauty in them. I love the finished product! Great eye.
Megan @ Two Live Colorfully says
February 18, 2013 at 9:26 pmThis is a really good tutorial!! You could totally save a lot of money by just making over the hardware instead of buying new hardware!!
I’ll definitely be saving this for future use!
debbiedoos says
February 18, 2013 at 9:00 pmGorgeous Debbie…I love how you spray them in a box too. Great tut, I pinned and boy do people like this one:)
Candice says
February 18, 2013 at 7:23 pmYeah, seems about right 🙂 I wish the cabinets had hinge pins like regular doors so that I could paint them separately and then re-assemble. Thanks for the tip. May look into chemical treatments like oxidizing before I try the paint… I’m trying to match some soft iron hardware and not quite sure what treatment would match best 🙂 anyway, love your blog, keep up the awesome posts!
Debbie says
February 18, 2013 at 7:26 pmThank you Candice, please let me know how it goes 🙂 Good luck!
Debbie
Candice says
February 18, 2013 at 6:52 pmWould you recommend this technique for hinges? I had searched for some black overlay hinges for my kitchen cabinets with no luck so I ended up buying satin nickel… They look terrible though 🙁 was wondering if they could be painted as there are moving parts.
Debbie says
February 18, 2013 at 7:13 pmI have never painted hinges. I would think that with moving parts it would eventually come off. But it sounds like you really don’t like what you have and if it were me, I would chance it. I would clean them very well and use a metal primer and follow the paint and primer directions closely. Good luck 🙂
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says
February 18, 2013 at 5:59 pmDebbie, that was a great tip about using a cardboard box while spray painting! The gorgeous pineapple design on the hardware was definitely worth refeshing and reusing!
Janel from NellieBellie says
February 18, 2013 at 5:47 pmYes Please!! Easy directions for the DIY challenged (umm…me!). Thanks!
Shannon @Fox Hollow Cottage says
February 18, 2013 at 5:14 pmGorgeous! Looks better then new 🙂 And the details are darling!!