- 1). Scrub the area to be painted hard with a steel-bristled brush. This will remove any loose paint chips and any rust that has built up where the paint thinned out.
- 2). Scrape down any rough spots or uneven places in the finish using 80-grit sandpaper or a file.
- 3). Clean the sanded surface of the safe with mineral spirits. These are solvents that are used to remove grease and clean tools while being less toxic than turpentine. Mineral spirits are available at any hardware store. If the safe has rusted, spray it with a phosphoric acid spray (also available at the hardware store) and brush away the loose flakes when it dries.
- 4). Set the safe on a drop cloth and cover any areas you don't wish to paint with masking tape.
- 5). Cover the safe with a layer of oil-based primer. Oil-based paints are thicker and grip metal better; some even have etching compounds included that will help the primer bond with the metal surface. This should be painted on with a disposable bristle brush (or "chip brush") that will abrade the metal to add more grip. Primers should be given a full day to dry.
- 6). Paint your chosen color onto the safe with an oil-based metal paint. Buying one from the same manufacturer as your primer may get you better color coverage. If there are areas you cannot reach with a brush, spray paint them first, then brush around them.
- 7). Apply varnishes to the safe's new finish. This is not strictly necessary, as many oil-based paints come with a glossy finish, but for a real shine you can brush or spray on a clear varnish available from any paint shop.
SHARE
