Most older metal light fixtures were brass plated, chrome plated or painted with baked-on enamel paint. Due to high humidity in a bathroom, it is common for old bathroom fixtures to rust and corrode. You can refurbish an old fixture by removing the old electrical components, replacing them with new ones and then paint or plate the old fixtures to bring them new life.
Instructions
1. Remove the bulb cover from the light fixture. Depending on the type of light you have, the is glass or plastic. Look for thumbscrews holding the cover in place, remove them and then pull the cover off. Remove the light bulbs from the electrical sockets.
2. Remove the light bulb sockets from the fixture. In most cases, on the backside of the fixture, you will locate a retaining nut that secures the socket into the fixture. Turn the nut with a pair of pliers and pull the socket out through the back of the fixture. Discard the socket and the electrical wires connected to it.
3. Sand the old paint or plating off the fixture with a sanding block or a palm sander. Knock down all of the surface rust with the sander, until the surface of the metal fixture is smooth. Take your time with this process. The smoother you get the metal, the better the plating or paint will look.
4. Clean the surface of the metal with a degreaser like mineral spirits and a cotton rag. After this, do not touch the metal surface with your bare hands. This prevents getting oil onto the surface of the metal.
5. Spray the surface of the fixture with enamel spray paint primer. Once dried, scuff the paint with a sanding block and add two coats of enamel spray paint. Allow adequate drying time. If you plan to plate your fixtures in chrome or brass, or you want to have a baked finish applied, do not prime and paint the fixture. Take your fixture to the company you want to complete the plating or baking.
6. Slide a replacement electrical socket through the back of the fixture and secure the socket to the fixture with the retaining nut.
7. Clean the light cover in warm soapy water to remove any dirt from the cover.
8. Polish the light cover with a glass or plastic polishing compound and a buffer that you can attach to a hand drill. This will restore shine to the cover.
9. Clean the cover a second time with soapy water to remove any buffing compound residue.
Tags: fixture with, surface metal, back fixture, bulb cover, enamel spray, enamel spray paint, glass plastic