Q. Jordan,
Hi there! What would you do with these? Have you done a post on refinishing metal items? Is it difficult/fume-y?
– Melissa
A. Hey there Melissa!
Not difficult at all – just depends how professional you want the pieces to look (and how much time you want to spend on them). I assume you’re going to use those for holding candles? I’d paint them gold or silver to pick up on the light.
If you want to refinish them first, you can sand them down (or use a wire brush) to remove all the rust, spray on primer (ask your hardware store for an anti-corrosive primer), let it dry, and then paint in whatever color/finish you choose (remember, flat paints hide imperfections better than glossy ones, but is tougher to keep clean). To keep fumes at a minimum, just make sure you’re working in a well-ventilated area; those are small objects, so it shouldn’t be too bad.
If you’re not interested in painting, steel wool could create an interesting effect (sort of swirl it around to create a circular, brushed-metal look).
More painting tips are here.
Good luck!
Yours,
Jordan
