Refinish an Antique Steel Floor Lamp
Antique steel floor lamps are the "poor relation" of antique brass floor lamps. Like many vintage manufactured products, floor lamps were available in a variety of styles and prices. The higher-end solid brass floor lamps had fancy accents like marble insert bases, while the cheaper steel lamps were brass plated or sprayed with gold paint to imitate the more expensive models. Today, these steel lamps are often found in various states of deterioration in attics, basements or in garages at estate sales and often are covered with layers of paint. They can still be used to light and serve a home after being refinished.
Instructions
1. Wind the lamp's cord into a coil and tape it underneath the lamp so it is out of the way while you are working on the lamp. If you plan to rewire the lamp, remove the wiring completely.
2. Apply the paint stripper-or the rust remover if your lamp is covered with rust. Follow the instructions on the product label. When using the stripper, apply a thick heavy coat of stripper paste. Wait for the paint to begin flaking off, and remove with the putty knife. Repeat the process until all of the paint is removed.
3. Brush the surface of the lamp with the soft-bristle brass brush, clearing any excess stripper or paint from the detailed areas. Pay particular attention to cleaning the details of the base and turned areas. These areas can be challenging to clean.
4. Apply a wash of lacquer thinner to remove any excess stripper or paint. Follow directions on the label. Follow with a final sanding, using steel wool.
5. Go to your local paint store, and choose a paint for the lamp. Ask for a spray paint that can be used on metal and one that will protect against rust. Many early steel floor lamps were simply painted with one color, such as metallic gold. However, if you want to match the floor lamp to your decor, choose a color that fits, and purchase accent colors to highlight some of the decorative spots on the lamp. For example, a common two-toned combination for a vintage steel lamp was an ivory pole with gold accents on the top turnings and the base.
6. Tape off areas of the lamp that you do not want sprayed with paint.
7. Spray the lamp in a well-ventilated area. Place the lamp on a tarp or newspapers with plenty of room on all sides so you can move around the lamp as you spray. Put on the dust mask and goggles. Do a test spray on the newspaper to check color and angle of spray. Begin at the top of the lamp. Hold the spray can to one side of the lamp. Simultaneously press the spray nozzle down and move your arm across the lamp, lifting your finger off the nozzle just as you move past it. Continue this process of short bursts of spray painting in arc motions, all the way down the lamp. Move around the lamp repeating this process. Repeat on the base.
8. Allow the paint to dry. Repeat with a second coat, and allow to dry. Remove the tape, and paint the accent colors (such as gold leaf metallic) by hand if desired.
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