apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have used spray paint on old metal file cabinets and have a friend who used spray paint on old school lockers. Remember to remove the hardware and scrub and polish using steelwool if needed. No other prep work needed except for a good cleaning.

Take it to an autobody shop and have them blast it and if you want, polish it. This will give it an industrial look. If you want it painted, pick a color and ask said autobody shop to spray brush it for you. Alternately, if you are feeling frisky and up to the task, you could rent an air painter and DIY

I refinished mine this summer. I tried spray paint and because of the textured surface, it didn't take. I used an electric sander on the whole thing (after removing handles), wiped clean, and then used interior semi gloss paint from a local hardware store that I had mixed into a rich fuschia. I applied it with a standard paint roller and used a smaller paint roller for tight areas. Two coats later, I had a lovely piece for my home.

Good luck!

I have three sets of 5 lockers from the 80's. I have used spray paint on all of them- 2 were in good shape so I used primer then regular spray paint- the third was in very poor condition with irregular finish. I used a textured spray paint from rustoleum on that one- hammered finish. It is great and I love them in my mud room!

I would probably get it sandblasted as Lizzy said. If it were me I would leave it raw metal or you could get it painted with auto paint for a nice clean finish.

Google "powdercoat" and your city and take it there.

The writing is kinda fun - I'd leave it on the inside for giggles, unless it's really obnoxious.

Aw, man--embrace the graffiti! Refinishing it is going to make it look like it came from the Pottery Barn Teen catalog!

Here's a link to a Chicago Home Garden magazine article that talks about local resources for powder-coating for metal cabinets that might help you:

http://www.chicagohomemag.com/Chicago-Home/November-December-2008/Q-We-like-the-vintage-metal-cabinets-in-our-summer-home-kitchen-but-the-finish-is-pretty-banged-up/

Good luck!

or you could refinish, and add your own graffiti.

We looked in to having ours sandblasted and powder-coated but that seemed too expensive for our large units. In the end, we bought a grinder and removed all the paint and rust from the outside and used a steel brush attachment for a circular brushed metal look. The reflections actually hide the dents! We spray paint clear-coated the outside to prevent rust. On the insides, we just used the steel brush attachment to loosen the rust and chipped paint, vacuumed, cleaned with mineral spirits and spray-painted alternate colors in every other cubby. It turned out great...3 months and countless cans of spray paint later! It might have been worth the sandblast and powder-coat expense, but my husband had fun and got a new power tool out
of the deal.

powder coating is the way to go! seriously. dont even consider anything else.

I painted an old gray metal filing cabinet back in the 90's bright red and what I did was sand and painted with a rust inhibiting primer that encapsulates the rust, what there was, which was very minimal where the original gray paint had been chipped away or scratched, sanded that if I recall and just kryloned it bright red and it came out great, put on some new modern looking chromed handles and it worked well for many years.

Just be sure you do enough coats and stay enough back from the surface so you get an even coating and no drips or runs.

I'd wait to do it when the weather is warm and little wind though

Keep the graffiti! ( at least on the inside!) Take it to an auto body shop to polish up the outside.

I too think keeping the graffiti is the way to go.

I cleaned mine, lightly sanded them, and then went to an auto paint store and bought some auto paint to spray them with (using a paint sprayer--several very thin coats).

I just used spray pain on mine too, and didn't worry if the were a few rough spots. The lockers themselves are a bit marked, but that is part of the charm.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29627987@N04/3131955249/in/set-72157610709036978/

Get it sand-blasted and powder-coated. MmmmMMMM.

I think you should contact Heather and get her to clean her locker. Back in the day you could never leave your locker like that.