How to Spray Paint Brass Fixtures

Disassemble the brass fixture completely. Cover any pieces with masking tape that you cannot remove, but you do not want spray painted.

Examine each piece of the fixture for rust and patina that you may need to clean away.

Sand the pieces of the fixture if any of the brass is flaking. If rust forms under the brass plating, it may cause the paint to start flaking.

Wash the fixtures with warm water and dish soap to remove patina. While pure brass does not form rust, patina forms in the corners of the brass and may interfere with the painting process.

Apply rust remover to any corroded parts of the fixture. If the light fixture is pure brass, there will be no rust. Unfortunately, most light fixtures are merely brass-plated, so the metal underneath the plating could still accrue rust over time.

Dry the fixtures after you finish cleaning them. If the surface of the fixture is wet, it will interfere with the spray paint.

Set each piece of the fixture at least 6 inches apart on the tarp so you may spray them separately. Hold your spray can about 6 inches away from the fixture. This ensures that the paint will hit the fixture, but is far enough away that it will not cause unsightly dripping.

Spray down from the top of each part of the fixture. Leave them to dry fully before you flip them over and spray the other side. Apply two coats of paint in this fashion, or until you can no longer see any of the brass shining through.