Weathered Wood

**Bilbo** · 10-12-2007,08:29 AM

Well, I wanted to board up some of my window for the big day and, having little to spend on foam and paint and such, decided to find some old dilapatated pallets I would take apart and nail on.

The local Super One (grocery store) took pity on a poor haunter and supplied me with 3 such pallets absolutely free and I immediately pledged them my soul.

The problem is, I had asked them for the worst looking, most beat up, totally put through the ringer pallets they had and instead they gave me 3 dang near pristine glistening units to play with.

So now, still being too broke to buy paint to age them with, I turn to you.

How do I turn these beautiful yellow pine wood pallets into grey, beaten planks any of you would be proud to nail to their homes??

Preferably without spending much, if any, money

**berkisho** · 10-12-2007,08:46 AM

Have you tried distressing them with "force" i.e. hammer, etc...

some very light wood stain and or wood burning kit or torch or something?

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=44783
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2093332AACwYzI

...or google "how to distress wood"

**Phoenix** · 10-12-2007,08:51 AM

shot blasting wood creates a quick distressed look

**Spats** · 10-12-2007,08:55 AM

Without paint, you may not get to use them until next year.
If you want all natural weathering, leave them outside.

That look you want is the gray/black/brown streaked look, the look of pine planks after months and months of rain, humidity, drying out, rinse and repeat.
If you have any black paint laying around, you could thin it with water (really thin it, make a wash) and coat the wood that way. You can also use ink to create the wash, if you have any lying around.
Another option is to mix up the darkest soupiest mud you can, slather the boards in that and let them sit overnight. Hose 'em down the next day and see what they look like.

**DeadTed** · 10-12-2007,09:18 AM

Put them under the tires of your car and gas it. Nice, burnt rubber 'stains'. Dig a hole, fill with water, bury boards, cover with dirt.

Though, I still think you could find some paint somewhere to use.

I wish this guy were still updating his site - it's my absolute favorite project website so far. Great tutorials and one for boarded up windows which includes details about painting. For what it's worth...
http://usersites.horrorfind.com/home...ardsIndex.html

**Bilbo** · 10-12-2007,09:22 AM

Great suggestions, everybody! Thanks.

I think this year I will beat and burn the crap out of them, then leave them outside to age for next year.

All this work for just one day? Totally worth it

**UnOrthodOx** · 10-12-2007,09:31 AM

Old pallets, eh?

Step 1.

Open phone book.

Step 2.

Look up "Pallets" in yellow pages.

Step 3.

Find one specializing in reutilizing or refurbishing pallets.

Step 4, go trade in your 'new' ones for some 'old' ones.

Such places often have bits and bobs of broken pallets they cannot use as well. Might find one to give you all the wood you could ever possibly want.

Alternately, if there's an industrial park near you, take a drive around it. A ton of places have dumpsters full of busted pallets (and other interesting stuff), and some are open to letting you dig through em.