From Brass to Class
by
Michelle
3 Materials
$2
1 Hour
Easy
I had my house built 17 years ago. Wow! How time flies! Anyway, the back patio light had seen better days and the brass was badly tarnished. The new house paint color is gray and that made the tarnished brass stand out even more. I considered buying a new fixture, but wondered if there was another way...
I decided to try to spray paint it. After all, if it didn't look good, I could always replace it. Look how horrible it looks! I removed the bottom, square part and took the 4 panels of glass out so I could spray paint it.
I came up with the brilliant idea of loosening the 2 nuts on either side of the base plate just enough to slip newspaper behind the fixture. This way, I don't have to remove it completely and mess with electrical wires 
I taped the newspaper in place and I'm in business. I stuffed the light bulb receptacle with newspaper to keep the spray paint out of it.
I taped the newspaper in place and I'm in business. I stuffed the light bulb receptacle with newspaper to keep the spray paint out of it. 
I sprayed it in short, quick sweeps, giving it 2 coats of paint.
Look how good it already looks!
Here's the bottom part with the glass removed and painted with 2 coats of spray paint.
This is the spray paint I used, Krylon MAXX in metallic silver.
After removing the newspaper from the wall, I re-tightened the 2 nuts on sides of the light fixture base. I cleaned the glass panels and reassembled the light fixture.
Looks brand new!
Lights on!
We have a hot tub and I had installed this towel bar. The light fixture matches perfectly now. So glad I decided to spray paint it instead of replacing it. It only cost about $2.00 and took a total of an hour with drying time.
Resources for this project:
Krylon MAXX spray paint in metallic silver
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Comments
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4 of 14 comments
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great job, i have done this quite a few times thru the yrs.....saves a LOT of money and less items in the landfill! thanks for showing this exc. option 😃
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Thank you. :) I will just about anything to keep our landfills clear of useful items.
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I’ve been hesitant to spray paint a couple of brass fixtures and things I’ve been saving. They really look hideous to me now. Since seeing how beautiful your outdoor light fixture looks I'm psyched to spray all of the things I’ve been too afraid to ruin. Spray paint has really come a long way!
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Thank you :) glad I could inspire you. It turned out great and I'm very happy with the end result. So go for it!
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looks great...love those metallic paints. How about taking off that stupid label ? I am sure by now you know the precautions
The towelbar, for what is ????