Many have purchased old-period homes with glorious plans to restore them to their initial beauty.  Many times, during the restoration process, they may find that much of the original hardware throughout has been overlaid with years and years of old paint.  To stay true to the style of the home, antique hardware is a must, especially considering the quality of much of the modern hardware sold at big box stores nowadays.  If you have found yourself in this situation, you may be wondering just how do you restore the hardware to its original luster?  Is it even possible?  Is it hard? Well, the good news is, we at Olde Good Things have been restoring antique hardware for a quarter of a century.  We have learned simple processes of how to bring back these pieces to as near as possible to their first charm.  In this post, we have decided to share with you a safe and easy process that should help you in your endeavor to restore your antique hardware to its true beauty.

Watch the video or follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Video

Step by Step

Supplies

Safety goggle
Old clean paintbrush
Metal Stripper (Rock Miracle Paint Remover)
Wire brush
Large bin or cardboard
Old scrub brush – not pictured
Thick chemical-proof rubber gloves

 

Step 1

Take the wire brush and remove any loose paint.

Tip: Make sure to wear your safety goggles so no paint residue gets in your eyes.

Step 2

Take the paintbrush, dip in the stripper, and put a generous layer on the areas that are painted. Wait 15 minutes until you see the paint cracking and lifting.

Tip: Make sure you wear thick rubber chemical-proof gloves to protect your hands.

Step 3

Take your piece to the sink and with lukewarm water rinse the paint off and use the old scrub brush to get into smaller crevices.

Step 4

Completely dry the hardware. Don’t let it dry on its own. That could cause it to rust.

Step 5

Take a wire brush or steel wool to remove any excess paint or even out the patina. Strippers will remove the patina and layered finishes.

Tip: Be cautious adding strippers to thin cast metals like steel. It will completely remove the intended finish.

Step 6

Add a polish to shine or leave the surface natural.