How to Galvanize Metal for an Aged Look

Have you ever wondered how to create the galvanized metal look on a shiny surface? See how easy it is to transform with this 2 step tutorial.

I made this Flower Market Bucket last year for the Darice blog and even though it could be considered more of a spring decoration, I didn’t have the heart to pack it away because it’s so cheery! One of my favorite elements of the bucket is the galvanized look of the metal. It didn’t start out that way, however… it started out as a bucket with a stark metal shine which is’t my style at all. Isn’t it funny though how in order to get a vintage or “lived in” look on a decor piece the price doubles?

Not cool.

Have you ever wondered how to create the galvanized metal look? I’ve played with a few techniques to create that galvanized effect on shiny metal and I think I’ve got it down. Here we go!

How to Galvanize Metal for an Aged Look

Supplies

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• Metal French Floral Bucket
• Fine grit sand paper
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons salt
• Spray bottle
• Stencil, stencil dauber and black paint (optional)

Directions

Lightly sand all the way around the metal bucket to remove the shine from the surface. I suggest wearing gloves and old clothes for this step as it got a little messy.

Add the white vinegar and salt to your spray bottle and shake well. Lay the metal bucket flat (in a sink or on a protected surface) and spray heavily with the vinegar and salt solution. Once dry, spray it again. Repeat until the metal bucket has reached the level of galvanizing that suits your style. Flip over and repeat to galvanize the other side. Allow to dry thoroughly (overnight is ideal).

If you’d like to turn your galvanized metal bucket into a flower market bucket like I did, you can use a stencil of your choice or you can find the stencil I made here for a Cricut machine. If you want to make your own stencil, you can find a tutorial to create your own stencils here.

Fill in the stencil with black paint and peel back the stencil when the paint is still wet then allow to dry.

Now you have a galvanized metal finish without the exorbitant price tag! What do you think? Will you try to galvanize a metal piece you have?