Faux Grain

[Arthur C.]

Just thinking about faux grain techniques. I've seen some done, most not very well. Anybody do much of this?

[Nebraska]

I’m assuming you are talking about a painting process. I have seen it done in a furniture shop but only one guy didn’t, it looked pretty good but he had been doing it for twenty plus years.

Now on a somewhat related subject Billy Jones (an old friend) did antique furniture repair and he could take a cigarette burn out of a table top and fill it with these plastic melt sticks blending the color to perfection and when he got done even if you knew were it had been it would still take a minute or so to find it.

[woodburner807]

I haven't done it but my Dad (deceased) was a master of it. He did it with paint and three coats. Sure wish I watched him closer.

[NoDNA]

My son a few years back did most all of the doors in the house, and the front door still looks great. ?? But I know not why or how.

[Dark Lightning]

My dad had a '53 Chevy truck that he painted the window garnish moldings to look like wood. He also could straighten out and polish stainless steel vehicle molding to look like new. He used to carve the arms of chairs with roses and such. I always admired that; it's really where I picked up the liking for carved wood.

[Eddy-Smiles]

I've done some distressed antiquing on some furniture but never really attempted to duplicate wood grain.

[Arthur C.]

I’m assuming you are talking about a painting process. I have seen it done in a furniture shop but only one guy didn’t, it looked pretty good but he had been doing it for twenty plus years.

Now on a somewhat related subject Billy Jones (an old friend) did antique furniture repair and he could take a cigarette burn out of a table top and fill it with these plastic melt sticks blending the color to perfection and when he got done even if you knew were it had been it would still take a minute or so to find it.

Ed, I think those were likely shellac sticks. I've heard of that technique.

[mpounders]

I have did it to disguise patches or filler or to make basswood look like something else. I've never did wide areas, but it's really just a matter of making the colors match and look natural. I've only used brushes but i think a feather can also be used.

[pallin]

One of my hobbies has been restoring Model A Fords, produced from 1928 thru 1931. Some deluxe models had painted woodgraining on the dashboard and interior window trim. It is done with several colors of paint, using brush techniques to achieve straight or burl grain. I tried to do the Black Walnut burl that was original in my 1931 Convertible Sedan with "so-so" results.

[sappy]

I have done this on cabinet doors and a boat we had. I coated it first with blo then used stain and a brush. The brush works best if it is a little stiff, dip just the very tip into the stain and dab the brush on a cloth just a little, then go for it. Don't repeat over any areas. Play with it before trying it out for good. Get comfortable with making waving lines.

[sappy]

Put the blo on heavy, let it sit a few min. and wipe off, don't let it dry before doing stain. I have seen this done, and have done it, by coating the wood with varnish, let it dry then use a rag or brush to add the stain. Both ways work.