Antiquing Painted Metal

Prepare the metal. If the metal object is not attached to anything, spread some newspapers on a hard surface and lay the object on top of them. This will make it easy to clean up any paint that misses the metal. Use the tape to cover any areas that you do not want touched by the paint. If the metal item cannot be removed, tape the area around it as well so that you do not inadvertently paint surrounding areas, such as walls or doors.

Sand the metal. Use some fine grit sandpaper to sand off any rough areas or flaky paint. Use your water and rag to wipe down the metal and remove any debris. Dry it with a dry rag.

Prime the metal. Use your paintbrush to apply the acid blocking primer onto the metal and let it dry as per the manufacturer's instructions. Depending on the product, it may require more than one coat.

Apply the bronze metallic paint. Use your paint brush to evenly spread the paint over the metal. Take note of the product's drying time, but do not allow the paint to dry completely. Approximately half an hour is enough time.

Add the aging solution. Depending on the product, either use your brush to apply the aging solution or spray it on. This will mix with the wet paint to create the aged look during the drying process. Aging solutions vary in color based on the effect you want and the color of the metal.

Allow the paint and aging solution to dry as instructed by the manufacturer. Your painted metal should now have an aged, antique look.