by Kathryn Kirby

Created on: October 12, 2010

There are many different tricks you can use to give new wood that old-time look. Sure if you do not mind, your wood warping you can always throw it outside for a few months for a bit of natural aging. On the other hand, you can create that antique look within a few days using one of the ideas in this article. These ideas can be used alone or in any combination until you get the look you want.

The method(s) you use is determined by how you want the finished piece to look when you are finished. No matter how you choose to age your wood or the current state of your lumber or piece of furniture, there are a few steps in the process. Start with a piece of 120-grit sandpaper and a clean, dry, lint-free cloth or a dry paintbrush. Always work with the grain of the wood when using the sandpaper. Going against the grain will show up unfavorably when the stain is applied.

Working with the grain, knock the edges off your piece, gently rounding them. If your item is painted, be sure to sand a bit more in normal wear spots along the edges and tops. Sand any imperfections out such as paint runs or drips. When you have finished sanding, it is time to get rid of the sawdust with the cloth or paintbrush. Thoroughly remove all traces of sawdust or they will be stuck in the sealer creating tiny bumps that will mar your finish.

After your piece is thoroughly cleaned its time to apply a coat of clear lacquer sealer to prep the item. Once the sealer has had adequate time to dry, at least 24 hours, it is time to start the aging process. Let us work with the painted piece first and then move on to the naked wood. The easiest way to age a painted piece is by using Earth toned stains. If however, you are trying to age a piece that is painted black, use a brown or gray tinted glaze instead.

Using a lint-free cloth, apply a small amount of stain to your piece. Remember, while you can always add more stain, you cannot take back to much. Working in one direction, continue to stain your piece, always coming back to swipe the excess off the previous spot. This method of coming back to a previous strip helps to keep your work uniform rather than showing up as patches. Allow this first coat to dry completely before you consider a second coat. While I recommended working in one direction, you can have fun with it by making small swirls.

Another way of aging a painted piece is to spray or splatter the stain on. In my opinion, I think this works best on a base coat of rubbed stain. Using a spray

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