How to Antique Galvanized Metal

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I love the look of antique galvanized metal buckets and tubs, but finding them with the nice patina is easier said than done. I am constantly coming across nice, bright and shiny buckets or if I do find old ones they often have rust holes in them. I finally found a bucket that I liked the shape of and decided I would age it myself. Get ready to learn the quick process of how to antique galvanized metal that allows you to age it in minutes instead of decades!

Materials: 

• Galvanized Metal Bucket (found HERE)
• Tape (found HERE)
• Spray Paint (found HERE)
• Cotton Balls
• Rubber Gloves (found HERE)
• Nail Polish Remover
• Sand Paper (found HERE)
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner (found HERE)
• Steel Wool (found HERE)

Instructions:

Start with a clean galvanized metal bucket.  Make sure all debris is removed by wiping the tub down with a damp rag.

If you are adding a stripe, decide where you’d like your painted stripe to appear on your bucket.

I positioned mine where the bends in the bucket are and lightly sand this area.  This will help the spray paint stick to the shiny metal surface.

Tape off the rest of the bucket leaving a metal band showing through.

Spray a couple coats of spray paint in the color of your choice on the band area. (Red would also be a fun option for a vintage look.)

Remove the tape to prep the area for aging the metal bucket. Put on the rubber gloves.

Turn the bucket upside down and pour the toilet bowl cleaner all over the bucket.  Use the steel wool to help evenly spread the toilet bowl cleaner over the surface of the bucket.  Set a timer for 15-20 minutes and wait for the transformation to start happening.

After 15 – 20 minutes, rinse the bucket with water.  A water hose will make the job easier.  Help rub the toilet cleaner off of the surface as you rinse (be sure you are still wearing rubber gloves.)

Let the bucket dry.  Now it’s time to add some age to the strip on the bucket.  Apply a fair amount of nail polish remover to a cotton ball.  Carefully rub the cotton ball on the paint strip to remove some of the color.  Continue doing this randomly across the painted band.

I love the areas that the ZEP pooled while it was soaking. This allowed some areas to age more than others.  Even the handles got a little rust on them! You can antique galvanized metal in under 1 hour including dry time for the spray paint. If you are just wanting to antique the metal you can be done in under 30 minutes!  How’s that for fast?

Don’t miss all of the other great outdoor projects included in this post!