How to Remove Spray Paint from Metal

How to Remove Spray Paint from Metal

Spray paint is a great product to use to makeover almost anything. It comes in many colors and finishes and is great for imperfectly shaped pieces that you can spray much easier than brush with paint. It’s a DIYer’s dream!

But someday you might want to remove that spray paint from an object you made over.  Particularly a metal one like a wall hanging, hardware, or lamps.

How to Remove Spray Paint from Metal

While I love the deep blue color, I wanted to return this lamp to its former brass glory to add more metallic to our living room.

I’m happy to tell you that yes, you can undo your makeover in just a few easy steps.

Here’s how to remove spray paint from metal.

Materials:

How to Remove Spray Paint from Metal

  • Spray painted object
  • Citristrip
  • Paint brushes
  • Old toothbrush
  • Plastic scraper
  • Lint-free rags, such as an old t-shirt
  • Plastic gloves
  • Eye protection
  • Respirator
  • Acetone

Instructions

1. Place your object to be stripped on a rag.

2. Put on plastic gloves, respirator and eye protection.

3. Using a paint brush, spread the Citristrip over the piece in a thick coat. Follow the instructions on the Citristrip, letting it work for about 30 minutes. Test a section in 15 minutes. When the paint bubbles, you are ready to scrape it off. Read more

NauticalTowel Rack

The kids are back in school, but we still have plenty of hot summer weather here in Arizona. This means a lot of time by the pool.  My boys swim every single day, and always leave a pile of towels left in their wake.  I was tired of the towels and swim trunks piling up in their bathroom, so I decided it was time to make a designated place for them to hang everything to dry.  This DIY Nautical Towel Rack keeps their bathroom picked up and it adds a little fun nautical decor to the pool area, so it’s a win-win!

Materials:

  • 1 – 1x6x8′ cedar board
  • 1 – 5 gallon paint stick
  • 1 roll of 1×2″ sisal rope (about 10 feet)
  • 6 coat hooks
  • Green Apple spray paint
  • acrylic paint in the color of your choice (I used Americana Bahama Blue)
  • Wood Glue
  • Super Glue
  • Staple Gun with 3/4″ staples
  • 1 yard of adhesive vinyl and transfer paper for the stencil
  • Die-cutting machine
  • 1 1/2″ hose clamps
  • 1/2″ self-tapping screws

Instructions:

Spray paint the coat hooks and set them aside to dry.

edited-0363

While the paint dries on the hooks, cut the cedar board into two 3′ sections.  (If you have a bigger family, you can always just cut it in half for a bigger towel rack. ) Cut the 5 gallon paint stick into three pieces to attach to the back.

cut-cedar-board-for-towel-rack

Line up the boards and attach the paint sticks to the back using wood glue and staples.  If you don’t have a staple gun, a brad nailer with 3/4″ nails will work as well. Read more

Top 15 Painting Tools

I have painted almost every room in our home now. Make that almost every room in two homes! You could say that over the years I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade and have acquired quite a few painting tools. But, only a handful are my tried and true gear that get pulled out for every painting job. These are my Top 15 Must Have Painting Tools!

Here they are (affiliate links included):

Top 15 Must Have Painting Tools

1. ScotchBlue Tape with Edge-Lock:

Top 15 Must Have Painting Tools

Painter’s tape is a necessity for clean lines. I’ve been using ScotchBlue for years and I can tell you that the painter’s tape you used 5 years ago has changed. ScotchBlue is constantly researching and developing better painting products every year. We always have a supply of ScotchBlue in my tape drawer and we definitely go through it!

2. Pro Masker 2000:

Top 15 Must Have Painting Tools

I used to be a taper and taped off every room we painted. (Now, I’ve gotten much better at cutting in with just a brush.) In a desperate attempt to save time, I bought this paint tape dispenser and was thrilled to shave some time off my taping tasks. You can watch a brief video here. I still tape off some edges when I know it will take me more time to be meticulous than to tape off some trim.

3. Metal Paint Tray with Hooking Legs (and Plastic Bags):

Top 15 Must Have Painting ToolsI have a no-frills metal paint tray. It has legs that can hook onto a ladder, which comes in handy when painting high on a ladder. This paint tray is the first and last tray you’ll ever need because you can line it with plastic grocery bags for easy clean up and for protecting the tray from a multitude of layers of paint.

Top 15 Must Have Painting Tools

4. Paint Mixing Drill Attachment:

 Paint Mixer Attachment

Okay, I know you already know how much I love my cordless drill. Which is why you’ll understand why I jumped at buying this paint stirrer drill attachment just to have an excuse to pull out my drill for another project! Honestly, unless you like the slow process of thoroughly mixing old paint or blending colors, you’ll want one of these for your own. It makes your paint super smooth and creamy. Mmmmm.

5. Paint Pail with Handle:

Top 15 Must Have Painting Tools

Having a small pail to hold paint for painting trim while balancing on a ladder just makes sense (unless you like step aerobics.) This handheld paint pail has a magnet inside that will keep your paint brush from being completely submersed. It’s lightweight and easy to hold in one hand while you brush with the other.

6. Shurline Edge Like a Pro: Read more

How to Paint a Room Like a Pro | Pretty Handy Girl

How to Paint a Room Like a Pro | Pretty Handy Girl

Welcome back, I hope you are ready to paint with me today! Paying a professional to paint your room is a waste of money. I’m here today to show you all the tips and tricks to Paint Your Room Like a Pro! If you’re just popping in, this week is Paint Week!

Paint Week - 5 Lessons to Perfect Your Painting Skills

If you missed any of the paint week posts, here’s the recap:

 

Painting your room like a pro isn’t difficult, it does require the right tools, patience and the willingness to paint 2-3 coats if necessary.

Materials:

ceiling_paint_materials

  • Paint tray
  • Paint roller with a 1/2″ nap for smooth walls. (5/8″ nap for textured walls)
  • 2.5″ angled painter’s brush
  • 1″ square artists brush
  • X-acto knife
  • Edger
  • Painter’s tape
  • Damp rag
  • Sanding block with 200 grit or higher sand paper
  • Extension pole for paint roller
  • Step stool or platform
  • Moveable light or spotlight

Are you all dressed up in your Sunday best? Go ahead and get changed into your paint clothes because you want to look like the Pros (and save your clothes from being damaged.)

paint_roller_extension_handle

When I paint a room, I always paint the ceiling first, unless it REALLY doesn’t need painting. It is more efficient to paint the whole room while you have the tarps down and supplies out. Besides, you know you won’t go back and paint the ceiling another day. Am I right?

Painting Ceilings:

I’m not going to lie, painting ceilings is a pain in the neck, literally! You will definitely need an extension pole to get the ceiling painted. If you have 20 foot ceilings, you might want to go ahead and hire a pro. Otherwise, this is definitely a DIY task, so let’s get this ceiling painting party started!

I’m going to assume that you are working with a previously painted ceiling. If you have newly drywalled or scraped ceilings, you’ll need to prime first.

Begin by lightly sanding the ceiling. This should knock off any bumps and will lift any dust or dirt.

lightly_sand_ceiling

Wipe off the sanding dust with a damp rag or sponge.I found using a damp swiffer mop works great and cuts the time in half. (Of course if you have textured ceilings, you won’t be sanding or wiping with a damp rag. You can use a brush attachment and vacuum the ceiling.)

AND NOW, the moment you all have been waiting for — it’s time to crack open that can of paint!

Don’t use just any old paint for this job. First choose a flat finish, it will show less imperfections.

Valspar_ultra_white

I prefer the Valspar Ultra White paint because it is the brightest white I’ve found. (Side note: Valspar has changed their formula to add primer to the paint. I don’t think the coverage is as good as the previous formula. But, it is still the brightest white I’ve found so I still prefer it.)

When choosing a roller use 1/2″ nap. It will hold more paint and you will be able to paint faster. To speed up the painting process even more, purchase the HomeRight EZ-Twist Paint Stick (affiliate link.) You can read my review, and see why I love the HomeRight Paint Stick. Use a fresh roller for each coat. It makes a difference to have a new roller, trust me.

Start by edging around your ceiling. Use an edge roller or a paint brush to line the perimeter of the ceiling. You can use painter’s tape if you wish, or if you have a steady hand you can skip the taping. (If you are painting your walls or crown molding, you can skip the taping as well and paint the molding after you finish with the ceiling and walls.)

edge_first

Pour your paint into the paint tray and start painting in one corner. Paint in random directions. Now isn’t the time to practice perfectly straight racing stripes. Read more

Prepping to Paint Your Room Like a Pro | Pretty Handy Girl

Today’s post contains the most important lessons I can impart on you. Prep work is 80% of a professional paint job. If you take the time to prep your room, it will make your paint job look flawless.

If you’re just popping in, welcome to Paint Week!

Paint Week - 5 Lessons to Perfect Your Painting Skills

If you missed any of paint week, here’s the recap:

Today’s post will be about properly prepping your room before painting.

Clear the room:

Start by removing everything from your room that isn’t bolted down to the floor. The less you have to paint and maneuver around the better. Next remove anything on the walls. This includes towel bars, TP holders, pictures, outlet covers and switch plate covers. If you decide to leave a wall sconce, just know that if you ever put in a new light, you might have a spot that is unpainted.

Toilet paper holders and towel rods are easy to remove. Look underneath for  the hidden location of a screw that attaches the fixture to the mounting bracket. Inside that hole is usually either a hex screw or a flat head screw. Turn the screw until you can pull the fixture off the mounting bracket.

Cover Everything Else:

Once the room has been emptied, bring in the tarps and dropcloths. Cover anything that is left in the room. Put an old towel or doormat in the entrance of the room to wipe your feet off should you step in any drips.

Even the neatest painter will drip paint! And if you are a klutz like me, you may even step in the paint tray. (Not a good thing.)

Patch Imperfections Now: Read more