Asked on Jun 10, 2017
How to Repair oil rubbed bronze sink drains?
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The finish has completely come off of some of my oil rubbed bronze sink drains and others are just dulled. Any ideas of how to make these look better without replacing? I have searched the Internet and read about darkening metal to look like oil rubbed bronze. These appear to be chrome underneath. I've thought of trying to paint them. The sinks are composite set into granite. I would need to consider damaging the sink with whatever I did.
Home depot has rubbed bronze metal stain. We used it, it will come off again but can paint it again.
Hi, You can do this! Tape around the drain with good quality masking tape with plastic or other covering to protect your sink. Lightly sand the metal drain, wipe off off thoroughly. Prime the metal with a Rust-Oleum type paint with a spray can or brush. Let dry as directed, cover again. Let dry as directed. Now, Using a compatible metal Rust-Oleum type paint intended for outdoor, using the color of your choice, paint the drain, again following the drying time instructions. Thin, repeated coats are best. When completely dry, remove tape and coverings, make sure there are no leaks of paint, and that it is dry. Enjoy! This might take a week to complete if the humidity is up, or conditions aren't perfect. You might have to do one sink or drain at a time, but in the end, gorgeous! Many $ saved! I painted my front brass door knobs to a deep bronze. Beautiful and cheap! Good luck!
Replace them. No paint will hold under water just as the finish didn't.
Thanks for the fast replies! I'll try the first 2 - thanks Sandra Cifor and Linda Barrett Dicksen - and of course replacing is always a last resort William Burbank. I did wonder about getting the drains out without damaging the sinks though. Is that easy? If I do have to replace them I don't think I'd get the oil rubbed bronze again. I've noticed many winks like mine that have the plain chrome drains and it doesn't seem very out of place.
Barkeepers friend now makes a liquid. About 4 dollars a bottle. The darkening of drains was caused by vinegar. It happens to aluminum too when using vinegar on metals.
Any chance they are still under warranty?
I checked online and people are complaining everywhere that they do this, and that replacement ones do the same, which stinks! Personally I would try to remove it off of both of them, and leave them the chrome colour. Good luck!
Are you saying the finish is over a chrome plating or possibly stainless steel? That would seem to be the problem and the factory is painting these rather than plating them, to cut cost possibly.