How to Paint Fireplace Tools | Give a Fire Poker Set a New Look with Paint

Today I’m going to show you how to paint fireplace tools and give a fire poker set a new look with (special, heat-resistant) paint!  Here’s a little sneak peek at the transformation:

In the spray painting frenzy I eluded to, (when I spray painted the fireplace vents and doors), a fire poker set left behind by the former owners of the lakehouse also got a dash of matte black Rustoleum high heat paint.  We actually already have a lovely poker set that my grandpa welded, but the tools hang from a stand that also holds a pile of firewood: 

We’d like to weld a new stand just for the tools, as we no longer need wood storage (what with the handy firewood cubby beside the fireplace), but in the meantime I thought we might just want to use the small little reject set.  However, the fireplace tools had brass handles and were really worn out – and you know I don’t love brass to begin with!  But there’s nothing a fresh coat of spray can’t can’t improve, right?  I love seeing something practical – but worn out – like this come back to life with a little elbow grease and paint.  Because other than the worn finish, they fireplace tools seem brand new because they’re in such great shape. 

First I gave the set a thorough clean with some soapy water and a scrub brush, to remove all of the ash and dust.  For super shiny surfaces, like my brass handles, light sand.  If there is any rust on your fireplace tool set, you’ll want to sand that off as well.  Then I rinsed all of the tools and stand with clean water and let everything dry overnight.  You want to make sure the surface is really clean and dry for a proper paint adhesion!  Then I brought the whole kit + caboodle outside, taped off the bristles on the brush with painter’s tape and used the Rustoleum high heat spray paint I used for the fireplace vents and doors (see the whole makeover of the fireplace here).  I applied a couple of coats on each side, waiting two hours before flipping them over and spraying the other side, did the trick.  This paint has a super quick dry time (1/2 hour, handle in 1-2 hours), which makes for a really quick DIY paint makeover.

Now the old fireplace tool set looks modern and refreshed!  The all black matte paint finish really updated the dated 1990s fireplace tool set and it just looks brand new.  You can even find replacement bristles, if you need them – luckily mine were still in good shape!  I’m happy I could update this set, using leftover paint so it was FREE.  The best kind of DIY. 

I like how the set disappears against the dark grey, newly painted stone because I will have art and accessories that I want to highlight instead.  The house is still empty and naked but it’s coming along and I’m so excited to show you better photos of the freshly painted fireplace once we can move and start decorating!  I am so excited to hang art on either side of the fireplace on those planked walls – I’m thinking something in a white frame so it “pops” a little.  And I’ll have to figure out some narrow mantle decor too.

You must ignore the disarray

I partnered with Rustoleum to update the fireplace vents and doors and was so pleased with the quality of the paint (and the smart, matte black finish) that I tackled this as a bonus project with leftover paint.  I was not prompted or encouraged to provide a positive review of Rustoleum high heat enamel paint.