5 Easy Tips for Painting a Metal Filing Cabinet

Just because a metal filing cabinet doesn't fit in with the rest of your home of office, don't let it get in your way of utilizing your storage space. You can easily re-paint a filing cabinet to match your room.

Prepare You Space

First, make sure you have laid down some old fabric or drop cloths to protect the floor. Also, make sure you are painting the filing cabinet in a well ventilated room, as you will be using aerosol-based spray paint. You also need to wear gloves and a full respirator mask to protect against vapors and fumes when spraying.

Prep the Filing Cabinet

Run a piece of 220 or 320 grit sandpaper over the filing cabinet to make sure the surface is ready to accept the new paint. New paint actually sticks to lightly sanded existing paint better than it does to primer or bare metal. The sandpaper also removes any oils that may have been transferred onto the cabinet from your hands which might interfere with the paint. After sanding, wipe down the cabinet with a clean, dry cloth, then with a cloth with a little paint thinner to remove sanding dust.

You also want to remove any hardware before painting. Detach any handles or knobs so they're not in the way. If you can’t remove them, cover them with masking tape to protect them from the paint. Don't forget to cover the lock with painter's tape too.

Use Primer only if You Need It

You need a primer so that the paint sticks to the metal. So, you need only prime any bare metal spots. You can either choose to apply primer before you paint or choose a paint that already has primer mixed in. If you are applying a separate primer, make sure you purchase a spray primer, as it is much harder to manually paint metal without leaving brush marks. Metal paint primer can be found at most home improvement stores without too much difficulty.

Use the Right Paint

As with the primer, opt for a spray paint formulated for use on metal, as these will also help prevent rust. Make sure you spray in light, even coats and purchase enough paint for the job. You may need two or three coats of paint to cover your metal filing cabinet but this is better than spraying too much material onto the surface in one application. This would leave your paint job with drip marks.

The finish coat will require three to 5 coats. They will all be very light or thin coats. The first coat is extremely light and is often called the “tack” coat. It does not even have to fully cover the cabinet, it just provides a “sticky” light coat that subsequent coats stick to well. The next coat can be applied more heavily, but still should only be a very light coat. If you attempt to put on a heavy coat, it will sag and run.

Use the Proper Technique

Spray technique is as always an on/off action. Depress the trigger on the spray can and “Paint” three inches of air until the spray contacts the surface, then go past the end of the cabinet and let go of the trigger. Then start moving your hand in the opposite direction before depressing the trigger, then make your pass across the cabinet and let off of the trigger again. It is an on/off, left to right, right to left motion that does the perfect job.

If you are unsure about how to produce a smooth and even finish, start painting at the back of the cabinet so if you make any mistakes, no one will see them.

Edward Kimble, professional painter and author of Interior House Painting Blog, contributed to this article.