So, I think we can all agree when it comes to new things such as cars, bicycles, and jewelry, bright and shiny is what we LOVE to see!! Well, when I found the perfect metal letters to use on a DIY sign, shiny was not not optimal! But guess what, there’s an easy process for aging galvanized letters and I’m going to share it with you right here, right now!!
These are the letters I bought at Hobby Lobby, all bright and shiny!!
The problem here is that for this DIY project I’m looking for a more rustic look, and this ain’t it!! So I do a little research and decide to try a process to age the galvanized letters. The first step is to remove the top coating on the letters and white vinegar should do the trick! I’ll put my letters in a plastic bowl and add just enough vinegar to cover them.
The aging process
I’ll let the letters sit in the vinegar about two hours. You will be able to see the top later begin to dissolve and the letters will look smooth. The next step is to add hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt to your bowl. I dumped the original vinegar out and started over because I used more peroxide than vinegar in the second step. I added about 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 1/8 cup of vinegar, and 1/2 tablespoon of salt to the second mixture. Just make sure you have enough liquid to cover the letters.
As you can see in the above picture the letters are already looking distressed from sitting in the vinegar. The bottom image is after the letters have been in the vinegar, peroxide, and salt solution for about 15 minutes. It’s amazing how quickly the process of aging these galvanized letters begins!!
After about 45 minutes I have the desired look I want. You can lessen or lengthen the time in the solution to get less or more rust color.
Look at all that color!!
When you remove the letters from the liquid just lay them out on a napkin to air dry. And that’s all there is to it! I’m so happy with the colors and how much character was added!! I will definitely be repeating this process soon!
Thanks for stopping in and reading all about this little DIY process! Please be sure to follow on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and You Tube friends!!
Angela