I've done this a few times. Seems to last 4 to 5 years. You want a paint
finish between glossy and flat -- typically called 'eggshell'. One spray can
is more than enough. I wipe the handles down with lacquer thinners (nasty
stuff) . Take a 10 minute break to let the lacquer thinners do its stuff
then wipe clean with methyl hydrate (the methyl hydrate kills the action of
the lacquer thinners). Sand with 1000 grit sandpaper and wipe clean. Then do
the lacquer thinner/methly hydrate wipe sequence again. Then spray paint
your handles after masking the key hole. The lacquer thinner/methly hydrate
sequence does a serious chemical clean of the surface and the sanding gives
the new paint something to 'bight' to. Powder coating would be better -- but
this works for me.

Cheers,
Doug

On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 4:11 AM, HotelWestfalia <zolo@foxinternet.net>wrote:

> To the List,
>
> I have painted these door handles a few times and none of them turned out
> well as far as the paint holding on them well enough.
> So far, I have not found the right paint or the right method.  I'm not
> sure, how the originals were done, but those held up very well.
> Any of you have worked this problem out yet?
> Would be nice to know.
> Thanks,
> Zoltan
>

--
http://www.dougalcock.com