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. Rub ‘n Buff — I purchased this set of five different golds that I’ve tested for you in this post (you can also find them sold individually here). Since it’s a wax-based product, to give it a more durable finish, you can buff your finished item with a soft cloth. Black spray paint ( my favorite is this Oil Rubbed Bronze by in the 2x formula by Rust-oleum, because it contains paint and primer in one!

AMACO Rub n Buff Wax Metallic Finish - Rub n Buff European

Yes, there are tutorials about taking gold spray paint and adding dabs of black to age it, but that requires a lot of effort, skill, and a place to spray paint! It’s the easiest and quickest way to achieve a realistic antique metal finish, and it’s an enjoyable process too! The black paint doesn’t have to be perfect or even cover completely, we’re just aiming for a darker base coat. I want to make a mirror that is kind of just a grey/tan plastic wood grain finish look much more silvery (think tiara) and was wondering what would be the best product to use? 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 took a few failed tries and some experimentation, but I finally figured out the best way to get consistent, beautiful results. 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. It must be stiff and not fluffy (a blending brush works well) and you’ll want super fine/soft bristles for best results.

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

Unlike paint which can look flat (or sometimes flat with sparkles), Rub n Buff creates the true multi-dimensional look of metal. I think this would work especially well on things like dresser/cabinet hardware, picture frames, or other smaller detailed projects like adding a contrast strip around the edge of a nightstand. 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. This step is only required if you want an aged/patina effect, but paint gives the Rub n Buff better adhesion and is a good idea for a slick surface.

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. 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!

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

I discovered Rub ‘n Buff last year and instantly fell in love with it after testing it out on some knobs and hooks.

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. 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. As a user, what truly makes Rub n Buff unique if you want to create a metallic look, is the nuance and depth of the finish.

European Gold Rub n Buff Get the Look of Antique Brass with European Gold Rub n Buff

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!This is a designer’s secret for an easy DIY to update the look of almost any solid surface without breaking the bank.