Painted vs. Glazed Metallic Furniture

Process

• Both painting and glazing are similar in what they accomplish. In reality, glazing is a form of painting that takes place after the initial painting. Glazing is usually done to provide a special type of finish to the paint itself. The finish usually provides some type of decorative appeal, such as a finish that appears to be marble. Glazes are more of a transparent paint mixed with small amounts of color that leave behind an intended pattern in their residue.

Preparation

• Whether you are just painting or plan on using a glaze, the metal needs to be properly prepared before painting. To do so, lightly sand the surface with a fine sandpaper and a steel wool pad. Wipe away the residue, then apply a layer of acrylic primer. Allow to dry overnight, at the very least.

Painting

• Painting the surface of the furniture is generally the next step after you have primed the surface and prepped for paint. Depending upon the type of glazing technique you intend, the amount and type of paint will vary. For instance, if you intend to create the illusion of distressed wood, then you need not be overly liberal with your coverage of the undercoat. The undercoat generally needs to dry at least four hours before applying the next coat. If you simply plan on painting without glazing, you can generally stop after this step, unless you decide to apply an additional coat.

Glazing

• Glazing differs from painting only in one respect: It is the coat that shows the intended technique or effect. Glazing is usually completed in one coat, although additional techniques may also be applied to the glaze to achieve additional effects. For instance, a glaze may be applied to give the metal furniture a marble-like appearance. Additional techniques can then be used to make it appear as if the marble is worn and aged.