Paintlady, I read on one of your previous posts where you painted wooden rods for your dining room curtains and I would like to do the same.

I have several nice wooden rods, brackets, and finials left from the days when I used very full, ruffled country curtains and would like to paint them and turn them into a more traditional decorative rod. I think you said you used black paint and dry-brushed with gold. Did you use spray black, gloss, brush on, etc. I don't mind using black, but I would really like to have more of a dark bronze or mahogany look rod. Can you recommend a spray paint (or regular paint) for that look. I have been looking at the hammered paints, but not finding anything I like other than black.

The original rods I am working with are unfinished wooden closet rod (about 1-1/2 to 2 inches thick)I had cut at a hardware store. I purchased the pre-cut wooden bracket and end finials - spray paint would be easier on these pieces.

Thanks,
Tuesday

Hi Tuesday! I spray painted my rods black first. Once dry, then I dry brushed a gold metallic acrylic craft paint over it. To dry brush, you load a chip brush with the gold metallic paint and then dab all the excess paint onto a paper towel leaving the barest amount on the chip brush and then dry brush it over the black. Once it's dry, it's ready to hang. As for the dark bronze or mahogany you want, try to find a spray paint in a flat sheen that you like and then your can purchase acrylic craft paint at Walmart and dry brush some metallic shades on it to give it more color and dimension. They should have a bronzey metallic sheen in the craft paint like FolkArt craft paint. It comes in small bottles and takes very little.

Here's another project that I did that might give you some ideas for a color you might want to achieve. This was a shiney brass headboard I did. Here's how it started out looking. I did this during the late Fall months a couple years ago.

I primed it good with a Bonding Primer that I brushed on like Zinsser 1-2-3 Bullseye water based primer from Lowes. You could also find a spray Bonding Primer if doing something like brass.

Paintlady how do you keep the paint from wearing off on curtains that one pulls open and closed? (silly question isn't it?. . . as it probably can not be done)

Then I spray painted it good with American Accents Colonial Red from Lowes in Flat sheen.

The next step was once everything was dry completely then I used a chip brush and brushed on Valspar Antiquing Glaze in Asphaltum color from Lowes. You control the color in this step. As you see, it's not red any longer, but this is how you go about achieving colors you want. This is why I showed this particular project so as to give you ideas.

You can continue to brush on the antiquing glaze until you are pleased. Here's a closeup of the finished color.

quote:

Originally posted by lady of shallot:
Paintlady how do you keep the paint from wearing off on curtains that one pulls open and closed? (silly question isn't it?. . . as it probably can not be done)

Anything is possible if one is willing to take the time to do it properly. Since the rods that Tuesday is referring to that I did for my dining room are short rods that the panels are shirred onto and no closing of drapes is done, I did not need to do any type of clear coating or extra prep work.

If one wishes to close draperies and use clips and stuff that will move back and forth over painted rods, then I would DEFINETELY use a good BONDING PRIMER first on the rods such as Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 primer. Let that dry thoroughly before proceeding. Then paint as I said above. Once that's dry then put 2-3 coats of a Polycrylic clearcoat in sheen of choice over that. Let that dry for a week or so before using. You should be fine then. Proper preparation is the key. I didn't need to do this since my drapes are stationary and never closed.

The clearcoat I use is Decorative Effects Clear Protector by Valspar in satin sheen. This can be found at Lowes. MinWax also makes a good Polycrylic clear coat.

How do you think that painted rods that you purchase from stores manage to retain their finish and not rub off on draperies and/or the finish remains intact from usage? Proper prep and clearcoating to seal it I would think. Maybe I'm wrong on that, but it's always worked for me with zero problems.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: paintlady,

I just painted a wood rod and bracket white. They were a honey colored wood. I sanded a little, sprayed a white primer and then spray painted them white..I WON'T be opening and closing panels so I'm not too worried about the paint rubbing off. I might do a clear top coat before putting them up.

Once you get started, you'll see how easy it is. They are going to be up high anyways so they don't have to be perfect.

Good luck with your project.

YES! That bed is the look I am going for. I remember seeing it a year or so ago and tried to do a search, but I guess it had been longer than I thought, thus removed from the boards.

I think I am going to get brave, quit looking at everyone else's pictures and try something creative. After all, it is just curtain rods, I can have fun trying, and if I mess up, I will start over! I think I will put a clear coat on them....just because they may be so pretty that I will use them for years.

Thanks for such good instructions.

Tuesday

One more question - what is a chip brush??

Thanks,
Tuesday

I pick these brushes up at my local hardware/paint store. I have them in varying sizes....1/2" up to 2 1/2". They have short wooden handles and also have shorter bristles than normal paint brushes. I think the bristles might be china bristle. Just ask at your local paint store or hardware store. They're very easy to work with and great for drybrushing things.

Here are some pics of chip brushes. The handles don't look much shorter I don't suppose than normal paint brushes...but may be just a tad shorter for ease in handling for this type work. Hope this helps.

Chip brush source