I have an old painted wooden railing (indoors) that I would like to replace with the "aluminum look" so I've been thinking about buying that kind of paint. Has anyone used it? I understand it's a process involving many steps (comes in a kit) but I can't afford replacing the whole thing to get the look I want. Thanks!

You can get aluminum paint in either spray or brush on and it is just regular paint. I would go with the spray on as it will go on more evenly. The surface needs to be clean and dull to improve adhesion.

Hope this helps out.

Never thought about spraying it, so thanks for that. But as I was thinking about it some more I don't think that would work because of the location of the bannister (I might spray the house by mistake!). This will be some project for me because of the many spindles that I have to strip of paint first (any fool-proof stripping chemicals out there?). I'll have to do some more thinking about this before jumping into a project I can't handle, so I appreciate all input from you "experts" out there.

Is this project outside or inside?
Why do you need to strip the spindles?

Thank you for "your interest" in my project. I like playing handyman, although I'm neither... I was under the impression that one simply must strip wood before painting. Not correct? This is an indoor wooden banister leading up to the second floor (which is long and will be a pain in the neck to strip) and it has a beige handle-bar and lots of white spindles so it's ugly...simply must change it.. Everything else in the house is dark wood (with "silver" interior touches here and there) so the idea with alum looking paint on the spindles is what I want (handlebar itself will be in dark wood, I think). Because of the location of the stairway (part of it extends over the living room), I'm afraid of spattering (I tend to be sloppy when I work) and, hence, don't think spray would work. But always open for ideas from more experienced people!
THX.

NO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STRIP WOOD BEFORE PAINTING IT UNLESS IT IS PEELING VERY BADLY.

YOU CAN BRUSH THIS WITH GOOD RESULTS ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS USE MASKING TAPE ON THE FLOOR WHERE THE SPINDLES CONNECT TO IT. THE REST OF THE AREA CAN BE COVERED WITH DROP CLOTHS AND USE CANVAS ONES AS THEY WILL BE LESS SLIPPERY AND YOU WILL HAVE LESS CHANCE OF TRACKING THE PAINT. USE A GOOD CHINESE BRISTLE BRUSH TO APPLY THE PAINT AND PLAN ON A COUPLE OF COATS AS THE PAINT IS ON THE THIN SIDE. YOU COULD ALSO PRIME THE WHITE PICKETS A LIGHT MEDIUM GRAY TO HELP WITH COVERAGE.

HOPE THIS HELPS OUT.