How do I paint a metal filing cabinet?

Question

I tried spray paint, which looked nice, but it scratches very easily.
What's the right way to paint a metal filing cabinet?

Answer 1

you need to rub or sand it down...prime it with a good metal primer...then paint or spray with a goos metal paint

Answer 2

The best way is to take your metal filing cabinet and put it across some saw horses in your driveway. Get rubber gloves and a mask and then put some paint stripper on it (very caustic). The old paint will then peel off. Then wash it down and let it dry. Take steel wool and rub the entire thing down and then use a tack cloth to remove any traces of the steel wool. (All of this is available at the hardware store.

Then you can use an enamel paint that will bond to metal and brush it on. But I've had better luck using a spray enamel with a bit of gloss and spray it on -- making sure I'm in a ventilated area, but not one that will get too much dust.

It is a bit of extra work to get the old paint off, but it will make the new paint last a lot longer than if you just tried to paint over it. My blue filing cabinet has kept its last paint job for 20 years with no problems.

Answer 3

With A Brush....... Maybe Use Model Car Paint....... You May Be Able To Get Some Model Car Paint In A Spray Can But It's Best To Use A Brush!

Answer 4

I don't know if it's the right way, but I painted mine with Rustoleum paint, although any oil-based one would have been fine. I brushed it on rather than using spray paint because I had to do it indoors.

I think the key is to let it dry long enough before using it. I had a scratch on mine too, but I was impatient and started moving it around as soon as it was dry to the touch.

Answer 5

Hi! You can find several colors of metal paint at Walmart Supercenter. They have spray on and paint on (with a paint brush)! Good luck and Happy New Year!

Answer 6

Did you lightly sand the painted surface before you sprayed it? Then wipe it down with some thinner? If not, that is probably why the paint did not stick very well.

Answer 7

sand it down ,prime it and you can get hammerite paint or spray specailly for metal ,this should do the job ,but if you use it ventolate the area first it gets on the chest all the best kat ,and yes im a woman ,i also like woodwork and decorating ,carpet laying hehehehe well with the men i used to have in my life i had to learn to do it all and the funny thing is i enjoy stuff like this ,,,,

Answer 8

TAKE IT TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP THEY WILL SAND IT DOWN,PRIME IT,PAINT IT WITH AUTOMOTIVE PAINT AND CLEAR IT IT WILL LOOK BEAUTIFUL !!! AND YOU CAN PAINT IT ABOUT ANY COLOR YOU WANT.