Antique rubbed-bronze finish on a radiator? How? See pic.

K Penniman

Thanks Mike.

All our other radiators are painted and much of the detail is muted. Maybe I can find something to practice on.

I'll ask the fellow who I have sandblasting to prime it with an alkyd oil-based primer and then paint it with a bronze paint. Maybe I will experiment with applying some kind of coat that I can wipe off the relief of the design.

K Penniman

Picture on radical radiators homepage

I am having sandblased a single steam radiator (an American Radiator Co Rococo) and wanted to duplicate the finish on the similar radiator shown on www.radicalradiator.com home page. Anyone know how to do this? The finish really brings out the ornamentation of the radiator. Thanks for any help!

Kip in Montpelier, Vermont

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Looks like it was first primed , then painted with an antique bronze (could be commercial paint or could be home-made), then coated with a dark glaze (wiping off high spots and with "artful smearing" in the plain areas) and finally a coat of high-gloss lacquer.

Instead of lacquer, a final overcoat of rather thinned-out home-made bronzing could be used. While I believe this would be more durable in the long-term than lacquer, the high initial gloss would diminish fairly rapidly.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Try an oil-based glaze. The process will be VERY similar to the "antiquing" kits that were incredibly popular when I was growing up in the 70s.

Not sure if your system is hot water or steam. If steam, I would definitely not put lacquer on top.

Be aware that commercially available modern metallic "bronzing" use a VERY nasty solvent as the vehicle. I'd suggest painting outdoors only or in a VERY well ventilated room. Against my warning, a friend of mine painted his anaglypta ceiling with such a product. He passed out and fell off the ladder.

K Penniman

Ours is a one-pipe steam system. The radiator is getting sand blasted over the weekend.

Has anyone else painted their radiators to highlight the ornamentation? Any pictures to share or point me towards.

Thanks!