Type in “Zinc Finish” into Google Images and you get this set of images:
I really like the aged metallic look that appears it has been around the block a time or two.
I like the patina colored zinc the best.
I have been looking longingly at Restoration Hardware zinc finishes. I would love to have a giant mirror like this one if it were still available and did not weigh 80 lbs:
Alas, it was not meant to be.
I started looking for options to get the look I like at a price that I could afford. You can read about that here Getting a Zinc Finish
I read, and read, and read some more. Then decided that there had to be an easier way. For once, I was right. There is a much simpler way to get the look.
This is what I used:
and Color Smart ( Michael’s) silver metallic paint mixed with glaze. ( I used some Behr Faux Effects Glaze I had on hand.)
I had a part of a door that we turned into a coat rack hanging out. It was hanging out because I never really liked the finish. It was a perfect piece to practice the process on.
The steps were simple:
First spray paint the entire piece with the metallic paint.
Next, paint on the glaze then rub it in. Follow the individual boards with the direction to rub in/off the glaze.
Spray the whole thing with a flat or satin sealer when you have the look you are going for. Tah Dah. Done.
This shelf is going to be a place to hang towels in the new and improved bathroom. Photos soon to come, I hope!
This project was super easy. Even easier than I anticipated.
I used the same process on a small table and I wish I had painted the whole thing first with primer to eliminate the look of the wood grain. I still like the table as it is, but it does not have the “made of metal” look
I will be taking what I have learned and looking for a mirror to do in the near future. It would be super easy to do this finish on some of those cardboard letters that are in every craft shop. They would look like expensive metal letters. I think there is a beautiful metallic mirror in my future.