Metal Pipe Finishes

Finish the screws separately from the metal parts. Poke the tip of each screw — spaced about 1 inch apart — through a piece of painter’s tape. Then apply the finish of your choice to the heads to match the other metal parts.

Use a sea sponge to dab Valspar Cabin Plank paint on part of the textured finish for a mottled look. Cut a small, triangular piece of sponge to reach into the crevices of some fittings such as 90-degree elbows.

Dab on Valspar Lincoln Cottage Black until it covers the textured coating not covered by the Cabin Plank paint. To avoid applying too much, dab small areas until you get the hang of sponging on paint.

Fill a spray bottle with water and set the sprayer to shoot a heavy mist. Mix two parts of Valspar Cinnamon Cake paint to one part water to make a small container of diluted finish. Use a foam brush to dab paint around the threaded areas and in random spots on the black finish — wherever water would naturally collect and form rust.

While the paint is still moist, mist the painted areas with water until the paint begins to run.

Dab off some of the paint drips with a dry towel, allowing paint to collect in the threads and fittings. Allow the remaining paint to dry.

Let the finished project dry overnight before installing or using.

Brush on a coat of Rust-Oleum latex aluminum primer (available at automotive supply stores) to keep paint from reacting with the galvanized coating. Let dry completely. Then apply at least two coats of paint. We used Rust-Oleum Hammered Silver spray paint.

Spray on a thick — but not running — coat of Rust-Oleum Rustic Umber texture paint. This may create cracking or bubbling as the two coats of paint react. Do not wipe or scrape the surface. As the texture coat dries, it will harden to leave an aged copper surface.

While the paint is still moist, mist the painted areas with water until the paint begins to run. Dab off some of the paint with a dry towel, allowing it to collect in the threads and fittings. Allow the remaining paint to dry overnight before using the project.