One of my favorite random finds is rub ‘n buff! I discovered it year and years ago and love it for a quick metallic wax finish on any piece. Anytime I need to match the color of small items in our home my go-to is to use Rub n Buff. Need to match the color of all your kitchen hardware? Want to add color to your picture frames? Want your light fixture colors to match? Seriously there are so many ways to use rub ‘n buff I love it. However, my main frustration with Rub n Buff is that you really can’t tell the color it will appear based on the packaging. So I thought I’d sample them for you & share them on the blog!
How To Use
Rub onto clean, dry, or previously painted surfaces or on post-fired ceramics with a finger or soft cloth, then gently buff to a beautiful luster. Normally, I would use my finger but for sample purposes, I did use gloves as to not mix any of the colors. Rub it on and then buff it out, a little goes a long way! If you need another coat be sure to let the first coat dry completely first.
Objects
You can really use rub n buff on any kind of object, here are a few I’ve used it on in the past!
- hardware
- frames
- light fixtures
- planters
- screws and nails
Surfaces
Rub n buff can be used on really any surface! You don’t need to prime first, you can just apply directly to any surface you’d like.
- metal
- wood
- ceramic
- plastic
- glass
Overall I’d say my favorite rub n buff is the color European Gold. I think it is the perfect rustic gold color & matches the look we are going for in our home best. My other two favorites are Gold Leaf and Antique Gold! Of the two silver colors, I like Silver Leaf best. If you are looking for a copper color, I think the Copper Leaf has a great copper finish personally I just don’t like copper as much as gold.
I often get asked why I use rub n buff instead of spray paint. Personally, I prefer rub n buff because I feel like it gives more dimension than spray paint does. You have more control over the finish at the end because you can buff it out until you get your desired look. I love that rub n buff matches so well to my antique vibe and depending on how many layers you add on you can create a very antique rustic appearance.
I love using rub n buff for lots of projects around our home. Anytime I need to match the color of small items in our home my go-to is to use Rub n Buff! I hope this comparison helps you find the perfect color for your next project.
