Need some refinishing advice

[dngrmse]

Thanks god it's spring! I can finally start to work on some of the projects I picked up over the winter. Anyway, I was hoping someone on here could help me with this one. I picked up this old filing cabinet with brass hardware, and I would like to strip it and get a finish something like this other one I pulled off the Interwebs: I have some ideas as to how I may be able to do it, but I'd really like to hear some other advice. Thanks!

What I'm trying to achieve:

 

[Alan Douglas]

So the white marks on the top drawers are places where the old finish has chipped off?

 

[dngrmse]

Yes, they are actually bare metal, looks white in the picture for some reason. This cabinet came out of a body shop, they were using it to store body work supplies, sandpaper, etc... Makes me wonder if they sandblasted pieces that were resting up against it.

 

[pdubss]

Yes, they are actually bare metal, looks white in the picture for some reason. This cabinet came out of a body shop, they were using it to store body work supplies, sandpaper, etc... Makes me wonder if they sandblasted pieces that were resting up against it.

I got mine to look pretty close to what I think you may be looking for.
It is an old heavy cabinet that I wire wheeled, sanded and "painted" with rolled on Penotrol. I intentionally left traces of the original finish. Heres a blurry picture, I'll go to the garage and grab a better one tomorrow

Thanks god it's spring! I can finally start to work on some of the projects I picked up over the winter. Anyway, I was hoping someone on here could help me with this one. I picked up this old filing cabinet with brass hardware, and I would like to strip it and get a finish something like this other one I pulled off the Interwebs: I have some ideas as to how I may be able to do it, but I'd really like to hear some other advice. Thanks!

What I'm trying to achieve:

 

[Alan Douglas]

Probably the best you can do is sand and feather the edges of the chips. If you swapped drawers 1 and 3 the reflections from the finish wouldn't be at eye level, perhaps less obvious.

 

[bagged89s10]

Thanks god it's spring! I can finally start to work on some of the projects I picked up over the winter. Anyway, I was hoping someone on here could help me with this one. I picked up this old filing cabinet with brass hardware, and I would like to strip it and get a finish something like this other one I pulled off the Interwebs: I have some ideas as to how I may be able to do it, but I'd really like to hear some other advice. Thanks!

What I'm trying to achieve:

Try to scotch bright it to scuff it up and see what happens. Maybe try a spot on the back to see if it's close to what you want without getting too deep into stripping the paint, etc. It might just give you close to the finish you want.

 

[dngrmse]

Thanks for all the tips fellas. I'll definitely try some different techniques on the back to see how it goes. The chipped drawer is going to have to be stripped, I don't see any way around that. Anyway, I'll be sure to post some pics of the progress.

 

[dngrmse]

I stripped the drawers, but decided to paint the sides. The sides are just a little too banged up to be left bare. Anyway, found some cool deep metal paint at Home depot I'm going to use for the sides. I'm still experimenting with the final finish on the bare drawer fronts; so far a scotchbrite pad seems to give the most uniform finish. Will post final pics once it's all done.

 

[bagged89s10]

I stripped the drawers, but decided to paint the sides. The sides are just a little too banged up to be left bare. Anyway, found some cool deep metal paint at Home depot I'm going to use for the sides. I'm still experimenting with the final finish on the bare drawer fronts; so far a scotchbrite pad seems to give the most uniform finish. Will post final pics once it's all done.

Looking good!

Did you completely strip the paint on the drawers?

 

[dngrmse]

Looking good!

Did you completely strip the paint on the drawers?

Only the drawer fronts. I also completely stripped one full side, But it needed more attention than I care to admit. I'm going to experiment a bit with the fronts and the level of poilsh on the brass handles until I get it just the way I want it. Thanks for the scotchbrite tip!

 

[bagged89s10]

Only the drawer fronts. I also completely stripped one full side, But it needed more attention than I care to admit. I'm going to experiment a bit with the fronts and the level of poilsh on the brass handles until I get it just the way I want it. Thanks for the scotchbrite tip!

No problem. That a cool looking cabinet. I'd like to finish a cabinet like that one one day. Are you going to try to clear coat it?

 

[dngrmse]

Pretty much done, just waiting on some small brass knobs that were missing. I clear coated the handles and the drawer fronts. Painted the rest, came out pretty good. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[bagged89s10]

Very nice! What did you use for clear?

 

[dngrmse]

I used rustoleum high gloss clear from home depot. I wouldn't reccomend it though, it was quite thin and wasn't easy to apply. Ive tried krylon brand in the past, much better product.

 

[the gypsy]

It looks very good.