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I want oil rubbed bronze electrical switch plates and outlets [Florida]

August 9, 2007

Could someone tell me if i can change my electrical outlets & switch plates, current plastic outlets & switch plates. What do i need to have oil rubbed bronze surface?
Please Advise:

Norman Meloche
Hobbyist - Mulberry, Florida, USA

You outlets must not be made conductive, Norman, so caution is advisable. But you can paint them with Krylon Fusion or similar made-for-plastic paint. A possible alternative is to just buy brown plastic outlets.

For the switch plates, I'd buy oil rubbed bronze rather than try to make it, but I suppose you could make a fair imitation by spraying a copper toned base coat and lightly spraying with brown paint, rubbing it off the high points. Actually electroplating plastic switch plates isn't at all practical. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ

Rustoleum makes a 'Hammered' finish in Brown and Dark Bronze. I've just framed my existing mirror with chair rail (which is made from some sort of wood alternative product) and used the 'Hammered' for metal in Brown. They also make 'Hammered' for plastics. The Brown color ties in very nicely with my bronze-finish light switch covers. I purchased these from either Lowes or Home Depot but thought to myself 'wish I had known about this spray on product before'.

Another alternative... metallic acrylic paint. I bought two 2 oz. bottles from Michael's arts and crafts store: one in Bronze and the other in Black Onyx (Color Traditions - Premium Metallic Paint). A squirt of each on a foam plate blended with a cotton ball then dabbed on your surface... looks really good. And costs less than $2.50 in total. I used this as touchup on the mirror frame but will find many more uses for it.

Good luck.

Jay Deceder
- Royersford, PA, USA

I have done just this in my own home. Simply stated, you simply need to purchase 'real brass' outlet and swith plates and remove the protective film which keeps them from tarnishing. Once exposed, I used available patinas which my company sells to create brown/black patinas you seek. You can even produce a green or blue patina as well. As for the plastic parts of the switch/plugs, we have a 'real metal coating' which can be brush on and chemically affected to provide a real patina finish as you describe. Best

Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, CA, USA