How to Update Handles with Rub 'n Buff

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Often the first thing you do to update a piece of furniture you’re making over is replacing the handles. That doesn’t always need to be the case. If you like the look of the handles with the piece there’s a simple way to give the handles new life. I just finished a new project I refinished a French Provincial end table (check it out here). I loved the regal feel of the piece so I decided to keep the handles.

Now my immediate thought was spray paint but I’ve come across Rub ‘n Buff a few times on Pinterest and other blogs. I ordered it on Amazon and then let’s be honest it sat in my tool box since last September. Almost a year later I was finally ready to take on this project. It takes a little while for us all to find the right motivation. I am so often doing project for others that when I decided to do a project for myself it gets pushed to the back burner.

I was shocked at how easy this was. It took 5 minutes tops. Now I see a lot of people put Rub ‘n Buff directly on their fingers but I decided to use a rag from an old t shirt I cut up. A little but goes along way I’ve found out. Add a small dollop of the compound to your cloth and start to rub it onto the hardware almost like your trying to clean it. Continue this until you have the whole piece covered. Make sure you try to get all the excess of the handle buffing it out with a clean side of the rag. I decided to spray the handles with a clear coat afterwards just to protect it a bit more. If you make a mess use mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean up.

You can see above the difference it made. The left being the side I used the Rub ‘n Buff on and and the right the original off white.

You can definitely tell the difference from before and after. Don’t get me wrong I love the aged look from before but with the new look I am going for with this update the after is much better. Want a sneak peek?