Amaco RUB 'N Buff - European Gold, VWARNB08

Product Information

I knew Rub ‘n Buff was the answer, and I was finally able to carve out some time last weekend to make it happen. Rub n Buff also comes with other colors (like turquoise, black and red), but those don’t come as highly recommended as the metallics.

How to Antique Brass with Rub n Buff - She Holds Dearly How to Antique Brass with Rub n Buff - She Holds Dearly

Or if you are actually going after something more like a mid-century satiny gold, you could potentially skip this black base coat step and simply use the Rub n Buff alone! I knew that antiquing it to a antique brass or “brushed brass” feel would give it a more timeless look – perfect for my home! I’d love to hear from you if you’ve used this product before, especially in the other colors offered, OR if you’ve used it in “higher traffic” areas and whether or not it’s stood up to the wear and tear!If you are using Rub n Buff on a surface that will be handled regularly (knobs, faucets, etc) it’s important to sand and prime first for best adhesion. Now, this might seem like a lot of money for a tiny tube, but you will be AMAZED at how far this one tube will stretch! It took a few failed tries and some experimentation, but I finally figured out the best way to get consistent, beautiful results.

Rub n Buff Gold Comparison and How-to - Jenna Sue Design

But THAT doesn’t sound like a simple DIY project, so I’m really glad that I found another, much easier way to accomplish the same look. Your brush must also be clean, dry, and dense enough with fine bristles (see my brush recommendation linked in the materials list at the top of the post). It’s the easiest and quickest way to achieve a realistic antique metal finish, and it’s an enjoyable process too!

You’ll want to start very lightly, because the black paint grabs the pigment and unlike paint or wax, it ‘dries’ right away—meaning you can’t blend it in or spread it around. I actually found that dabbing and rubbing the product in with my old make up brush did a decent job buffing – but you can use a clean soft cloth to buff your newly finished item until smooth and shiny if it’s not quite to your liking! I’d stay away from applications that might need to withstand more wear and tear, OR plan on doing some extra steps to prep those items, and finishing with a clear coat or some other protective finish. If you like the more textured look with some of the black base coming through, one coat is probably enough.

Rub N Buff Wax - Discount Art n Craft Warehouse Rub N Buff Wax - Discount Art n Craft Warehouse

When I have not been able to disassemble items in the past, I have found that using painters tape generously, and then cutting off excess pieces with a razor blade or x-acto knife has worked well to get even harder to tape areas looking neat. I used cardboard for my outdoor space for spray painting, and a simple drop cloth for my indoor space while doing the Rub n Buff finish. Makeup brush — Obviously you won’t be using it on your face again, so don’t use your favorite brush! The application of Rub ‘n Buff is unlike anything I’ve used before (different than paint, wax, or gel) and requires a certain technique to get the aged look just right. So, if you have a rough surface but want a smooth finish, then you might want to sand to start with a smooth surface, but that is up to you and not necessary.This step doesn’t have to be perfect, but you do want the majority of the item to be covered well in the darker base color. I dabbed a small amount of Rub ‘n Buff onto a paper plate, grabbed my makeup brush and used the stiffer end to blend thoroughly. And of course, you’ll need the object you’ll be transforming along with a paper plate, paper towel or any clean surface to blend the Rub ‘n Buff. Do you think it work just as well on something that came in a matte black finish, rather than something spray painted black? We’ve lived with them for almost a year and I liked them, but I wasn’t completely in love with the brass finish.