How to make new wood look old?
- Thread starter Double L
- Start date
Jack Terpack
Well-Known Member
I used a propane torch with a wide flame to singe the surface. Practice on a couple scrap pieces to get the rythym right. Then lightly stain with a fairly dark stain. Wipe it down and finish it with a clear varnish. It looks like it's been there forever. I did this to one of our old cabins a long time ago for the same reason. We've long since sold the place so don't have any pictures.
Tap
Well-Known Member
Ive done a little artificial aging of wood in my home.
You can make stimulated saw kerf marks with a large sanding disc in a drill.
You can simulate hewing scars with an adze or wood chisel.
Or beat it up a little with a piece of chain.
Also soften all edges slightly.
We have a beautiful, (simulated) hand-hewn white pine, mortise and tenon railing in our home. When the man who made it delivered it to us, it was rough, splintery, and unstained...raw wood.
I took a spike antler and compressed every square inch of the wood. It made it smooth to the touch but still retained the hewn characteristic. After the antler trick, I wiped it all down with stain highly diluted with mineral spirits.
It looks like its 100 years old.
I will post some pics shortly.
Any marring of the wood you do should be done prior to a well diluted stain.
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You can make stimulated saw kerf marks with a large sanding disc in a drill.
You can simulate hewing scars with an adze or wood chisel.
Or beat it up a little with a piece of chain.
Also soften all edges slightly.
We have a beautiful, (simulated) hand-hewn white pine, mortise and tenon railing in our home. When the man who made it delivered it to us, it was rough, splintery, and unstained...raw wood.
I took a spike antler and compressed every square inch of the wood. It made it smooth to the touch but still retained the hewn characteristic. After the antler trick, I wiped it all down with stain highly diluted with mineral spirits.
It looks like its 100 years old.
I will post some pics shortly.
Any marring of the wood you do should be done prior to a well diluted stain.
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Tap
Well-Known Member
This wood was all new wood, and cut to dimensions with a modern band saw. It was then made to look hand hewn with an adze. It was raw, rough, and splinters. I compressed the wood fibers by working vigorously with a smooth antler spike. I then wiped with highly diluted stain.
We get a ton of compliments on it.
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
We get a ton of compliments on it.
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Double L
Well-Known Member
That is awesome. I think this will pass the wife test. Since our state just got shut down and I have not got my ok to keep working permit yet I may have allot of time in the next few weeks to do this project.
This wood was all new wood, and cut to dimensions with a modern band saw. It was then made to look hand hewn with an adze. It was raw, rough, and splinters. I compressed the wood fibers by working vigorously with a smooth antler spike. I then wiped with highly diluted stain.
We get a ton of compliments on it.
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
To age new wood to a natural gray weathered look like barn boards use an angle grinder with a knotty wire brush to texture the surface, then for color, let a small piece of steel wool sit overnight in ordinary white vinegar, then dilute the vinegar solution 1 to 1 with water. Test the result by brushing the solution on a piece of scrap wood to determine if the finish is the right shade. On most wood, turns gray as soon it's dry. If it's too light add a bit more vinegar and steel wool.
