Add Vintage Charm To Your Cabinet Hardware With This Affordable DIY

When trying to achieve your dream kitchen, even the smallest details matter, especially when you have a vision for a specific aesthetic. If you want a more rustic or vintage feel in your home, then stripping the coating off of zinc-plated screws and hardware is an easy and effective way to achieve a weathered look instead of the bright shine of new hardware. When you remove the outer layer of zinc, you reveal the raw metal, which is a look that's much more well-suited to a vintage-style home. Plus, you avoid using true antique pieces, a hardware choice that looks great but can lead to bigger issues. For example, true vintage and antique pieces can be more expensive, less functional, and have fewer style options than modern hardware. So, give this project a try in order to get the benefits of modern hardware with the classic look of vintage hardware.

For this project, you need to gather your zinc-plated hardware, a chemical that can strip the zinc coating, a towel, a glass jar, and mineral oil. You will also need some safety gear like chemical-resistant gloves and protective eyewear, depending on the chemical you choose. For the chemicals, YouTuber Wood and Shop recommends a disinfecting toilet bowl cleaner called The Works. This product can be purchased at many stores and only costs a few dollars, but it can also be dangerous for your eyes and skin. There are other options that may be effective but take longer to remove the plating, such as citric acid and white vinegar.

Once you have gathered all of your materials, you can begin the process of removing the zinc coating from your hardware. Place your zinc-coated hardware into your small glass container. Then, carefully pour your toilet bowl cleaner, white vinegar, or a combination of citric acid and warm water into the glass container. The time it takes for the zinc to dissolve depends on the chemical you choose to use. Toilet bowl cleaner should be fast enough that you can see the chemical reaction and watch the zinc come off of the screws. White vinegar will take longer than the toilet bowl cleaner, and citric acid will need at least 30 minutes to work. The thickness of the zinc coating will also influence how long the process takes. You can use tongs to carefully remove a piece of your hardware from the glass container and check the process. When all of the zinc has been stripped, place the glass container in a sink and run the water in the glass container until your solution is washed away. Leave the hardware in the water to prevent rust while you prepare for the next step.

When your towel and mineral oil are ready, remove the hardware from the water and quickly but thoroughly dry the pieces using the towel. Once dry, promptly coat all of the pieces in mineral oil or WD40 to protect your hardware from corrosion. Wipe off any excess oil using a towel, and your hardware is ready to use.

No matter which method you choose, you will need to take care when working with the chemicals. For The Works toilet bowl cleaner, make sure the product does not mix with any other chemicals, as this can create toxic gases. Also, protect yourself from eye and skin irritation that can occur from contact by wearing rubber gloves and safety goggles. Similarly, wear skin and eye protection if you use citric acid, as it can also cause irritation, and avoid mixing citric acid with other chemicals to prevent dangerous reactions. White vinegar can also cause skin and eye irritation, and safety gear should be worn. Learn about the common cleaning products that should not be mixed with vinegar before using it as well. If you follow all of these precautions, both while you are setting up your glass container for the project and as you rinse the container and hardware with water, you should be able to safely complete this project on your own.

While this process is specifically meant for removing zinc plating on small hardware items like hinges, screws, and latches, there are ways to achieve vintage effects on other, larger metal items, too. For example, you could learn how to use hydrogen peroxide to reimagine your metal hardware and give it more of an aged look so that it, too, better aligns with your vintage aesthetic goals.