Tried spray painting my cabinet pulls last summer—figured it was worth a shot before dropping cash on new ones. Used a primer and a couple coats of matte black spray, then let them cure for a few days. They looked awesome at first, but after a few months, the ones on the most-used drawers started to chip and scratch. The less-used ones still look fine, though. I guess if you’re gentle or it’s not a high-traffic area, it could work, but I wouldn’t count on it for a long-term fix. Maybe there’s a better sealer out there?
- I actually had a different experience with spray painting pulls, but maybe it depends on the paint or prep?
- Used Rust-Oleum Universal and skipped primer (probably a mistake), but then did three thin coats and a clear enamel topcoat.
- A year later, still holding up, even on the most-used drawers.
- Wonder if humidity or how you handle them makes a difference... I’m not super gentle, but maybe the clear coat is key?
- Might be worth trying a tougher sealer or even baking the pulls after painting (saw that tip somewhere).
- Not saying it’s perfect, but for the price, I’d do it again before buying new hardware.
I’ve always wondered if the age or material of the pulls makes a difference, too. Mine are old brass, and I found they needed a really good cleaning before paint would stick—maybe that’s why some folks have chipping issues? Curious if anyone’s tried those specialty metal primers or if that’s overkill.
I totally get where you’re coming from—old brass pulls can be stubborn. I’ve had similar issues with some vintage hardware, and honestly, a deep clean made a huge difference for me too. I did try a specialty metal primer once (Rust-Oleum’s, I think?) and it actually helped the paint grip better, but I wouldn’t say it’s always necessary. If you’ve cleaned them well and maybe given them a light sanding, regular primer usually does the trick. Sometimes it’s just about patience between coats... I’ve rushed it before and paid the price with chips.
I hear you on the patience thing—waiting between coats is the hardest part for me. I always want to see the finished look right away, but yeah, rushing just leads to peeling or weird texture. I’ve never tried the specialty primer, mostly stuck with whatever’s on hand, but maybe I should give it a shot next time.
Curious if you’ve ever tried swapping out the hardware completely instead of refinishing? Sometimes I get tempted by all the new options out there, but then I look at the prices and think... maybe my old pulls aren’t so bad after all. Have you found it’s worth the extra cost to replace, or does a good paint job hold up just as well?