Rub n Buff Gold Comparison and How-to

If you are looking to transform any surface into a realistic brass or gold—this tutorial is for you! I reviewed every shade of gold Rub 'n Buff, and I am sharing the results—along with my technique for getting a well suited aged patina effect!

I discovered Rub 'n Buff last year and instantly fell in love with it after testing it out on some knobs and hooks. It is the easiest and quickest way to achieve a realistic antique metal finish, and it is an enjoyable process too!

The application of Rub 'n Buff is unlike anything I have used before (different than paint, wax, or gel) and requires a certain technique to get the aged look just right. It took a few failed tries and some experimentation, but I finally figured out the best way to get consistent, well composed results. Let us jump right into it!

How to use Rub n Buff

To get started, you will just need a few materials:

1. Rub 'n Buff — I purchased this set of five different golds that I have tested for you in this post (you can also find them sold individually here). I recommend getting more than one color to do your own experimentation!
2. Black spray paint — Any kind will do, even Oil Rubbed Bronzeor dark brown works.
3. Makeup brush — Obviously you will not be using it on your face again, so do not use your favorite brush! It must be stiff and not fluffy (a blending brush works well) and you will want particularly fine/soft bristles for best results. If you do not have any handy, It helps to keep this inexpensive brush set and use it for makeup, but the stiffer large brushes will work for this project. Make sure the makeup brush is completely clean and dry.
4. Spray lacquer — Only required for objects that will be handled, like door/cabinet knobs.
5. Spray primer — Only required for objects that will be handled, or for better adhesion on slick surfaces.

And of course, you will need the object you will be transforming along with a paper plate, paper towel or any clean surface to blend the Rub 'n Buff.

During our build we installed these brass picture lights in our dining room. They were just the right size, style and price point. (If they are out of stock try this link, or a similar option in my roundup of 50+ budget-friendly picture lights).

We have lived with them for almost a year and I liked them, but I was not in love with the brass finish.

They just looked a bit too new, and the color was not quite right with the decor in our home.

Five Shades of Gold Rub 'n Buff

I knew Rub 'n Buff was the answer, and I was finally able to carve out some time last weekend to make it happen. But first, I thought it'd be fun (and helpful for everyone!) to test out all five shades of gold.

Autumn Gold: More like a rose gold or a copper.

European Gold: The most desaturated gold of the bunch, similar to champagne bronze.

Gold Leaf: Similar in tone to European gold, but darker. Closest to an “unlacquered brass” finish.

Grecian Gold: The darkest gold with bronze tones.

Antique Gold: A warm gold with peach undertones.

How to apply Rub n Buff for an aged effect

Here is a secret to getting a vintage look: paint it black first! A dark base coat will create the depth and dimension required for a patina effect. If you do not want it to look aged then feel free to skip this part. For this color test, I sacrificed some old spoons and gave them a couple coats of black spray paint:

The black paint does not have to be well suited or even cover completely, we are just aiming for a darker base coat. I found that the spray paint will also “grab” onto the Rub 'n Buff and make it adhere to the surface very well.

I dabbed a small amount of Rub 'n Buff onto a paper plate, grabbed my makeup brush and used the stiffer end to blend thoroughly. A tiny bit goes a long way.

You will want to start very lightly, because the black paint grabs the pigment and unlike paint or wax, it 'dries' right away—meaning you cannot blend it in or spread it around. Think of it as a concentrated powder paste that immediately transfers to the surface. Remember, you can always add more pigment but you cannot easily take it away. This is why a fine bristle blending brush is so important. The first time I tried using a cotton ball and that did not work at all, so take my advice and use a good makeup brush!

I found that shorter movements and a swirly motion helped to eliminate any visible brush strokes. You can experiment with the patina effect and go for more contrast by letting the base coat show through, or a subtler look by adding more layers of gold (including multiple colors, if you choose).

I gave each spoon a coat of a different shade, allowing the black to peek through just a little. This is how they turned out:

It is tough to capture the metallic qualities through a photo. Do you have a favorite?

Honestly I would have been happy with a few of them, but the more subtle European Gold was my favorite:

With the winner chosen, it was time for the transformation to begin!

Step 1: Prep your surface

If you are using Rub n Buff on a surface that will be handled regularly (knobs, faucets, etc) it is important to sand and prime first for best adhesion. Since these are wall sconces that will not be touched, primer was not necessary.

To prep the sconces, I first used painters tape to protect the light.

This is a little trick I use when I do not want to paint all of something. The shape is easily cut away with a razor blade knife.

Step 2: Paint it black

This step is only required if you want an aged/patina effect, but paint gives the Rub n Buff better adhesion and is a good idea for a slick surface. I gave them a coat of oil rubbed bronze Rustoleum spray paint.

You will want to make sure the paint is completely dry—I would give it at least a couple hours so the finish will not rub off.

Step 3: Apply Rub 'n Buff with a makeup brush

Now it is time for the fun part! I loaded up my brush with European Gold (making sure to thoroughly offload the color first) and gently swirled it on.

The process did not take long at all (I posted a timelapse in my Instagram stories, in case you want to see a video of it!)

Here is a little before, during and after progression…

I was aiming for a more subtle patina, so two coats were needed. I found that brushing side to side on the top layer gave the finish a more realistic texture. At this point the brush had been sitting overnight with the Rub 'n Buff dried on (I forgot to wash it out) so it was not going on as smoothly, and even buffing parts of the first layer off. I switched to using my finger to apply a thicker finish and cover completely in some areas.

In total, it took around 15-20 minutes per light and I used maybe 1/3 of the tube. And had fun doing it!

A huge improvement, I would say!

Do not these look like particularly expensive antique lights?

I am amazed at how authentic it looks. You'd never know these were not the real deal.

FAQ

When should I use Rub 'n Buff instead of spray paint?

Rub 'n Buff is ideal to use in the following scenarios:
1. On small to medium sized items
2. On fixtures that are not easily removable to spray paint outside
3. For an aged look instead of a “new” factory smooth finish
4. If you want more color variety than the few gold spray paint options

Can I use Rub 'n Buff on door knobs and faucets?

Yes! You will need to properly prep and seal the finish. Prep includes scuffing up the surface with fine steel wool or a sanding block, then using a good oil based spray primer. 2-3 coats of a quality spray lacquer is also recommended. Avoid any abrasive cleaners or metal-to-metal contact for best results.

What's the best gold Rub 'n Buff color?

It depends on the look you are after, but I use European Gold and Gold Leaf the most often.

Why is my Rub 'n Buff not applying properly?

Make sure the surface is clean and dry. Slick metal surfaces may need to be primed/painted first. Your brush must also be clean, dry, and dense enough with fine bristles (see my brush recommendation linked in the materials list at the top of the post). Allow the first layer to dry completely before applying a second.

Shopping for picture lights? Look at this roundup of 50+ budget friendly favorites! →

I hope this post was helpful if you've been wanting an easy and inexpensive way to antique almost anything. There is several other color options like silver, pewter, white and ebony, so the sky is the limit. Leave a comment and let me know what you plan to makeover!

If you like this project, look at these popular beginner budget DIYs from my Project Library!

1. How to realistically age wood (the easy way!)
2. How to antique a mirror
3. How to instantly age shiny brass
4. Faux stone planters