Thread: Aging wood

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Hey, does anyone know how to make wood look old. I'm making a old shack facade out of pallet boards and some aren't old looking. Inexpensive way would be the best option...thanks a bunch

Well, I know that when distressing furniture, people will typically use length of chain to mar or otherwise dent the wood surface.

Other than that, maybe put some scorch marks on the wood with a handheld propane lighter, running it across the surface. (Just make sure that you don't actually set it on fire. )

Easiest way I could think of is watered down paint.

First, try to cut the boards to where they aren't perfectly straight, or nail them up slightly crooked. I wouldn't want to do real splintering just for safety's sake, but a little askew will get that dilapidated look without risking a snag on someone's skin or costume.

You'd need to get some black latex (check the oops paint section of your hardware stores for either black or gray - or have them add in black to a darker toned oops) and in a separate bucket, add in some paint and water until it's thinned out (think milk consistency).

Use a brush or roller to go over the boards. You don't want it to be opaque - you want to be able to see through the paint to the grain of the wood. A few layers of the gray water/paint, letting it dry in between will get that old weathered gray board look.

Let the boards dry completely before the next step.

Take straight black paint, brush it on and try to get it into the nooks/low points and then take a rag and wipe it off BEFORE it dries. You want to wipe off just the top surface - the black will go into the low parts and accent them. Do this in short sections so you don't end up with it drying. Try pulling down on the paint with the rag to simulate water run off from years of rain.

I also have good luck actually using water and a sponge (this method is faster, but gets messy so do it in the grass and wear old clothes and GLOVES). Bucket of water, old sponge... ring out the sponge slightly and then squish that sponge onto the wood. You're letting the water wash away the black paint, but it's going to do it in a more realistic pattern. If you wash away too much, slap some paint back on there and go at it with the sponge again. I splatter with an old scrub brush too... it is fun to experiment. I like to let it dry in between to get the rain/dirty marks. Again, major messy, tho.

This is an example of the the gray basecoat with the sponge wash black on foamcore:



I'd have done a really transparent gray on real wood to let the grain show through, but you can see the paint run effect pretty well on this.

Optional is to then take white paint (after all the other stuff has dried) and just barely dry brush (this means use an actual dry brush with NO WATER - dip the tips of the bristles into the paint and then dab off most of the paint onto a cloth and THEN drag the brush over the surface to get a highlight effect). You can always go over it with a clean rag to remove or smudge it slightly. (or the sponge again! )

I use this method:
http://www.woodworking.org/WC/GArchi...cnamarart.html
Look under the "Chemical Treatment" section. Here's a pic of the treated wood next to a piece of ~30 year-old fencing. If you would prefer a lighter, more silvery look, use less tea. I wiped the test board 3-4 times with the tea before applying the iron acetate (let the tea dry first). If you're doing lots of wood, use spray bottles.

You can Spray paint it, throw coffee on it (or any other liquid that will stain). Spray an adhesive on it and then throw dirt on it. Some will stick and the rest will fall, you can also use coffee grounds. Beating it with a chain is called "Distressing" which as stated before an old work workers trick.

Try wetting it and spreading baking soda over it. Let sit and then wash off.

I have heard about the baking soda mixed with water technique. Your suppose to make a fairly concentrated mixture and spray in on the wood and let it set. Depending on the type of wood (some react quicker than others) this process will kick start the aging process.

I have also read about a staining technique which I have never used but it seems like it would probably work?? Your suppose to use ash mixed with water to make a paste and generously apply it to the wood. Let it dry and then wipe off the excess. Common house hold trash that is burnt is suppose to be used for the ash. I would use paper, wood and charcoal to make the ash.

First of all, get a good, stiff wire brush and run it down the length of the boards to raise the grain. After raising the grain, either use a torch to "bake" the surface of the wood to the desired color by toasting the grain or spritz some methyl hydrate (wood alcohol) on the wood, let it evaporate a little then light it on fire and again, toast the wood a bit. Lastly, once the above procedure is done, leave your wood outside for a few days or weeks exposed to the sun and rain, this will give it a nice silver/gray patina. Good luck!

My husband used a blow torch and ran it over the wood it worked really well. There are pics of the casket he did this to in my albums.

Here's a link:
http://www.halloweenforum.com/member...-new-year.html