metal props made of wood

[sergebroom]

If I wanted to build a theatrical prop out of plywood, what painting steps would you recommend so that the final infernal device would look like it's made of gold or copper - or a reasonable approximation of either?

Comments

[mkhobson.livejournal.com]

I've used metallic gold (or copper) spray paint and gotten good results. Getting it nice and smooth with primer (or filler, depending on how rough the wood is) is the key to making it look like real metal.

Whatcha making?

[mkhobson.livejournal.com]

That last comment was rather unclear. I meant to say "Getting [the piece] nice and smooth with primer [before using the metallic spray paint] is they key to ... etc etc.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Would you recommend spray-on primer, or the kind applied with a brush?

[mkhobson.livejournal.com]

Well, it depends on how grainy the plywood is. If it's nice smooth "finish grade" plywood, I'd use a glossy spray primer just to give the gold paint something to stick to (otherwise the gold paint will sink into the wood and not be as lustrous.) But if the wood has a lot of grain to it, I'd use a bondo (or something similar) to smooth out the grain, THEN a gloss primer, then the gold paint.

Gee. I can't believe I actually have thoughts on this subject. I surprise myself every day. ;-P

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I surprise myself every day

:-)
Thanks again!

[xeger.livejournal.com]

Be sure to use good primer -- usually a chinese red for gold, at least -- and do several coats of the gold. Smoothness isn't necessary, but an appropriate texture is.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Since it'd be seen from a distance, perfect smoothness up close isn't a concern. I hope I pull this off.

[thedragonweaver.livejournal.com]

Everybody's made good comments so far— let me know if you need painting tips for other textures, such as wood or stone.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I will.

[(Anonymous)]

One thing that's being missed: you need to use dark pigmented primer in red, ocher, or umber (for bronze only) or grey, or the metallic finish will look wrong under stage lighting.

And sand, sand, sand before/between the metal coats or every brushstroke will declare itself.

Julia, the technical theatre person is out right now, but I've gone through this in-house

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Oh, goody: randomly signed out again.

Julia, head. desk.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Julia!