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Distressing Wood and Metal
Distressing is one of the most effective and easiest ways to age furniture or a painted piece. We can take a new piece and make it look like it has been around for years and been touched by hands many times with a very simple technique using candle wax. I prefer using beeswax candles for this but any white candle may be used.
First look at the piece and decide if you wish the finished piece to look like a piece that has been painted many times over, if so you will need to paint two colors. If you wish the finish piece to be bare wood where rubbed off you will only need to do a topcoat.
Sand the entire piece with a fine grade sandpaper and wipe with a tack cloth
If you wish a color beneath the paint rubbed off apply it now and allow to dry for 2-4 hours.
Using the candle on its side rub over the entire piece, paying special attention to the edges and corners, anywhere the piece may have been touched alot ( around handles) areas where it would have naturally gotten distressed
Now paint the entire piece going over the wax with a topcoat, be sure to paint with the grain of the wood. Let dry thoroughly
Using steel wool rub the paint in the direction of the grain of the wood. Where there is wax underneath the paint will come off revealing either the bare wood or the color beneath. Avoid rubbing the steel wool against the grain as this will create an ugly scratch effect rather than a smooth distressed look
If you wish you can repeat this process to make the piece look like it has been painted several times in different colors
When completely finished wipe the entire piece with a tack cloth and protect the piece by varnishing.
Distressing can be done on both metal and wood.....just remember to follow the steps given before to prepare the surfaces for painting
For more great crafting tips and techniques visit us at Two Old Crows Labels: antiquing metal, antiquing wood, distressing metal, distressing wood, how-to, patina |
