Step 1
Put on rubber gloves and a paper dust mask. Dampen a rag with liquid de-glosser and rub it all over the brass. Change the cloth as necessary to prevent smudging the brass with black marks.
Step 2
Wipe the brass thoroughly with a clean rag. Apply some acetone to a cotton pad and clean the brass again. Again, change the cotton pad as it becomes dirty.
Step 3
Dry the brass again with the clean rag. Sand the entire brass surface evenly with fine-grit sandpaper. Rub the brass down with a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust.
Step 4
Use painter's tape to cover any cords, sockets and other accessories you don't want splattered with paint. Spray the brass with a light coat of oil-based white primer. Wait 30 minutes and spray on a second coat.
Step 5
Sand any drips lightly with fine-grit sandpaper and clean up any dust with the tack cloth. Paint the brass with flat-finish oil-based paint in the color of your choice. Spray on two coats as you did with the primer.
Step 6
Let the paint dry several hours. Sand any drips again and wipe down the brass as you did before. Cover the brass with one coat of clear, spray-on water-based polyurethane and let it dry 24 hours before removing any tape.