How to Refinish a Metal Floor Lamp

Make sure that the electrical cord for the lamp is unplugged from any wall sockets. Wrap the cord into a small circle and then wrap the circle into a bundle with a strip of masking tape around the center. Place the bundle beneath the lamp base to keep the coil away from the lamp body during refinishing.

Brush a layer of paint stripper over the body of the lamp to remove any existing paint or sealant from the piece. Use a moderate amount of the paint stripper, and wait 15 minutes for the stripper to penetrate through the covering to the metal beneath. Scrape the stripper along with the paint or sealant off the metal with a putty knife. Switch to a piece of steel wool to remove the stripper from small detailed areas you cannot reach with the putty knife blade.

Dampen a piece of cloth in lacquer thinner and wash down the surface of the floor lamp, in order to remove any paint or sealant missed by the paint stripper and to remove any lingering stripper residue. Rinse with clean water and then pat the floor lamp dry.

Check the lamp for any signs of rusting. Dampen a cloth in rust remover and apply to the rusted areas, saturating the metal. Allow the remover to remain on the lamp for 30 minutes, and then wipe away the remover along with the rust with a wet cloth. If rust remains, then repeat the process until you’ve cleared the surface.

Place masking tape on any areas of the floor lamp you don’t wish to paint. Place the lamp on the center of a drop cloth.

Wear a face mask and safety goggles. Open any windows and doors to the room to increase the room’s ventilation while spray painting, or take the job outdoors.

Hold the can of rust-resistant spray paint about 10 inches from the lamp’s surface with the nozzle of the can pointed directly at the lamp. Spray the paint onto the metal, beginning at the top of the lamp and working your way downward. Use back and forth motions for even coverage with the paint, turning the lamp body as needed to get the same amount of paint distribution all around the lamp. Spray the base of the lamp with the spray paint as well, using wide back and forth motions that begin the spray just slightly before the base and end just slightly after, to avoid feathering the spray along the base edges.

Wait for the paint to dry an hour, and then spray a second coating on the lamp to ensure complete coverage. Wait overnight for the second paint coating to dry. Carefully peel away the masking tape, taking care not to peel off any of the new paint as well.

Paint any secondary areas on the lamp as desired using a detail paintbrush. Wait 12 more hours for the secondary coat to dry.

Cover the paint job with three layers of urethane finish starting 24 hours after the last layer of paint. Brush the finish on with a paintbrush, allowing about two hours' drying time between each coat. Wait 48 hours after the final coat before using the lamp.