Ok, how do I paint this?

I want to leave the brass alone and only paint the steel.

I've been using Rustoleum Sage Green spray paint.  I don't know how I'll mask this off if I spray it.  Thinking of sacrificing a can of spray paint and just emptying the propellant, then using a small brush?  Any better suggestions?

Do the steel parts move in the brass?

Back when I was doing scale models, I used a homemade masking fluid of white glue with a drop of dish soap and a drop of food coloring to make it easier to see. Given that you don't have a lot of surface area to cover, it might work here.

02Pilot said:

Back when I was doing scale models, I used a homemade masking fluid of white glue with a drop of dish soap and a drop of food coloring to make it easier to see. Given that you don't have a lot of surface area to cover, it might work here.

And being white glue it would just wipe off with water?  I can see it.

What was the ratio of glue to soap?

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Do the steel parts move in the brass?

Not one bit.

Aluminum foil work? Painting boats that's what they use to wrap all sorts of oddball shapes that need masking. 

Mr_Asa said:

02Pilot said:

Back when I was doing scale models, I used a homemade masking fluid of white glue with a drop of dish soap and a drop of food coloring to make it easier to see. Given that you don't have a lot of surface area to cover, it might work here.

And being white glue it would just wipe off with water?  I can see it.

What was the ratio of glue to soap?

Yeah, it peels off easily and leaves no residue. I was doing very small quantities, so only a drop of soap, but for that I'd figure maybe 4-5 drops in the necessary amount of glue.

I'd put tape on side of the wave the doesn't bend and pinch it around.

Then I  would try 02Pilot's mix on the areas that wrap around the rings to be painted.

jgrewe said:

I'd put tape on side of the wave the doesn't bend and pinch it around.

Then I  would try 02Pilot's mix on the areas that wrap around the rings to be painted.

Using tape to mask the majority was definitely in the plan.  Just wasnt sure about the rest.

Now I need to fix the bent section and get it back into a circle.

I would tape off all of the steel bits. It should be pretty easy to get right up tight to the copper loops where they intersect. This would leave just the copper exposed. 

Then I would spray a liquid masking fluid on the copper. Lots of options to choose from. Intuitively I would say automotive paint product, but that stuff tends to come in gallon$. Remove the tape from the steel bits and spray the steel hoop. Wash off the masking film from the copper