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Artist's paints won't adhere to prepainted metal

April 30, 2008

I have 4 metal corners with screws to afix to a table I am refinishing but I want to change the color from gold to copper...do I wet sand them? can I use artists paints with brush or do I need to use copper spray paint? I want a light copper and I do not think the hardware or paint stores carrry the color that I want to match the metal scrolled legs.
I tried roughing the surface but hasn't work and painting artist's metallic paints does adhere to the surface.

thank you,

Cyndi Horn
fine artist and faux artist - Atlanta, Georgia

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If your corners are iron or carbon steel(try with magnet) you can immersion plate them with copper (20 gm copper sulphate/10 gm sulfuric acid/1 lit water). You must clearcoat them (Everbrite [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] is good brand). Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
May 5, 2008