Vintage enamel signs are often discovered looking worse for wear. Tucked away in storage sheds, buried in fields, and stashed in junkyards, there’s bound to be some rust, a chip or two, and a healthy amount of dirt and grime.
Fortunately, it’s quite easy to bring a damaged sign back to life with a little bit of restoration.
If you’re looking to spruce up a sign before you display it in your home, there are a few things you can do to make it look its best.
Of course, if you’re thinking of restoring a sign for resale or touching up an already valuable sign, you should talk to an expert or professional beforehand. Restoration almost always reduces the value of a vintage enamel sign.
General steps to restoring an enamel sign
Here are the general steps involved in a casual sign restoration. There’s no standard procedure, however, so it’s best to seek professional advice if you’re in any doubt.
Gently clean the sign
The first step is to clean any dirt and stains off the surface of your sign.
Most of the time, you’ll just need a soft, non-abrasive cloth and a mild cleaner like dish soap in some warm water. It’s important to avoid coarse brushes because it’s quite easy to scratch the surface of the enamel.
Wet the cloth with the detergent and water, and wipe the sign until any dirt and grime is washed away.
Dry it completely with another cloth to avoid any water streaks.
Rust
Once a sign has been chipped or damaged, the metal underneath can be exposed to the elements. This inevitably leads to a buildup of rust.
Left unattended, rust can spread through the metal, so many people make an effort to remove any rust deposits before going any further.
Some people try to buff away the rust, while others vouch for one of the many popular rust removal options available in supermarkets and hardware stores. And, of course, there’s no shortage of'secret' rust removal techniques touted by collectors online.
Use with caution, however, because some products can damage the enamel.
Repairing
If the surface of the sign has been chipped, scraped, or scratched, you can cover the damage with a porcelain repair kit.
The holes are filled with resin or epoxy, leaving a smooth surface that you can paint over.
Finish and protect
Once you have your sign looking great, you can give it a nice finish to leave it with a glossy shine or some extra protection against the elements.
Some people prefer the shine of a good polish, while others opt for a coat of clear wax for that extra layer of protection against the sun and any further damage.
With a little luck and a lot of elbow grease, you can have your sign looking as good as new.