How to make galvanized steel look like zinc.

I just performed a makeover on this school science table last month and I’m already thinking of ways to re-invent it.

Of course I can’t leave well enough alone.

Why not have it outfitted with a galvanized steel top?

I turned to the same company that cut a sheet of galvanized steel for our huge Magnetic Board.

Metal Supermarkets charges approx $35. for a piece of 22 gauge galvanized steel metal piece to cover the table. However the labor to have it wrapped and corners welded was about $150.00. I could have bought the metal and shopped for less expensive labor but I was in a time crunch (and impatient).

Here’s what I did to turn the shiny metal in to an aged zinc look…

First (1), clean and de-grease your surface. I used Simple Green (be sure to dilute it according to directions on the back).
Next (2), shake Amy Howard’s Zinc solution (found this at ACE Hardware. One bottle will cover approx 25-30 sq ft).
(3), Put it in an old container that you can either throw away or use specifically for only this solution.
Last (4), wear rubber gloves and apply the solution with a lint-free rag.

Dip and pat on surface randomly. You can see the oxidation process starts immediately and will have a black appearance.
Leave on about 15-20 minutes or when your surface has reached the desired look.

Pat excess off with a dry rag (don’t completely dry it). As it dries you’ll see the chalked aged finish appear. Let it sit over night.

Apply Amy Howard’s clear wax thinly over entire surface to protect it (found at ACE Hardware).

Apply the wax the same way you would over a painted surface or over your zinc surface using an up-down, side to side motion randomly.
After about 15-20 minutes buff it out with a lint-free dry rag.

The result is a weathered surface that looks like it’s been around for ages.

Which look do you like better?

Being as this table will live in my son’s room, the zinc surface is so much more well suited for him who will no doubt beat the heck out of it.
Luckily it should only look better and better with time.

(See how I transformed this $4.00 science table the first time).

See Amy Howard demonstrate how to make steel look like zinc.

The post How to make galvanized steel look like zinc. appeared first on 4 Men 1 Lady.