How to make the board look beautiful. How to age a tree with your own hands: tips, methods, what you need, a step-by-step guide. Mechanical aging of wood

Choosing the appropriate design of the room, it has become fashionable to give wood products the effect of antiquity. There are several technologies that will visually add age and make decor details uniquely handmade.

They are easy to use, so you can do it on your own, saving money from the family budget.

Why is this kind of processing necessary?

The whole world around a person is filled with electronic assistants, artificial materials. Under these conditions, it is not surprising that among urban residents it has become popular to use wood in interior design in order to get a little closer to nature.

Carrying out the processing of antique boards or timber, the owner receives an exclusive product, because each tree has its own unique relief.

In addition, the aging technology significantly increases the strength of raw materials, in contrast to the natural effects of the environment and time.

And thanks to the coating of wood with protective solutions and varnishes, its service life is extended, in addition, paint or varnish prevents insects from entering, and prevents the process of wood decay.

This type of decorative finish is used for ceiling beams, flooring, furniture.

However, it is important to understand that not all lumber is suitable for this type of work. You can not use the aging technique for the following types of wood:

  • cherry, pear (other fruit species);
  • maple;
  • alder.

Therefore, for semi-antique wood processing, it is better to purchase hardwoods, perfect for:

  • nut;
  • ash;
  • larch;
  • pine.

And after performing a high-quality tinting of the product, you can get an imitation of an expensive type of wood, taking as a basis a budget-priced pine or ash tree.

Important! Old trees require more careful processing, as they have many layers with different densities. Therefore, in order to accurately determine the age of raw materials, you need to pay attention to the number of rings on the cut: the more there are, the older the tree.

What methods of aging should be paid attention to?

You can create antiques from furniture in three ways, these include:


But also patination of wood is also distinguished, when special paints, wax or stains are applied to the raw materials in several layers, which, being absorbed, visually give the surface of the product an age.

Masters who will practice such an imitation for the first time with their own hands are recommended to practice a little on pieces of boards or timber in order to clearly understand all the nuances of the process.
It should be noted right away that if it is necessary to process the finished product, then it would be correct to initially disassemble it so that the entire surface has a uniform coating.

And to create an author's masterpiece, you should pay attention to wood slightly damaged by insects, the external environment, where there are knots, chips, because in the end such a product will look luxurious. Therefore, it will perfectly complement the kitchen, veranda, living room in the style of "Country", "Provence".

Thematic material:

mechanical way

This type of aging is called wood brushing, since brush in translation from English is a brush. It is this building element that performs the bulk of the work.

With the help of brushes, soft layers are removed from the surface of the wood, and the material acquires a relief. However, the desired effect will be obtained only when the cleaned raw materials are treated with paint or varnish, emphasizing and giving contrast to the pattern.

Important! For brushing, it is necessary to choose a tree with a clearly defined fibrous structure, otherwise the whole processing process may come to naught.

To carry out this method of aging, you need to have the following tools at hand:

  • Bulgarian;
  • electric drill;
  • hard and soft metal brushes;
  • sandpaper;
  • paint brushes;
  • stain;
  • acrylic paint;

And in order not to harm health, all operations must be performed in an open space, adhering to safety rules.

Important brushing steps

Mechanical aging simulation consists of 3 main steps. Among them:

  1. Chernova. A nozzle made of a metal brush in the form of a circle is installed on the grinder. The surface is processed along the fibers, while the pressure of the hand should not change so as not to damage the relief of the material.
  2. Finishing or grinding. The electric drill is equipped with a brass brush, a grinder with a less rigid metal brush is also suitable, while the rotational speed of the tool must be reduced. The entire surface is processed, as a result of which various burrs, roughness must be eliminated. And in order for the wood to become pleasant to the touch, it is better to go over the top with sandpaper a couple more times.
  3. Coloring and polishing. The final step, thanks to which the product acquires the expected antique look. A layer of stain is applied to the material, then gently washed off with a rag, due to which only soft parts of the raw material acquire color. If desired, you can add paint in bright colors. After drying, the wood is polished and varnished.

An option for aging products can be the use of craquelure varnish. After applying this varnish, cracks appear on the surface, into which paint can be rubbed and the raw material acquires a contrasting pattern.

wood burning

The impact of the high temperature of the fire on the raw material allows you to achieve the effect of antiquity in a short time.

As a tool, it is better to take a gas burner, since the blowtorch will smoke a lot, which can ruin the surface to be treated.

Operating procedure:

  1. The material is burned by the burner to a depth of 3 mm evenly over the entire area. In this case, you should carefully watch so that the tree does not catch fire.
  2. The charred layer of raw materials is removed with a metal brush.
  3. The surface is polished with sandpaper.
  4. Painting in this case is not necessary, you can simply apply a clear varnish to the product.

But you need to understand that firing indoors is prohibited and life-threatening.

Chemical method

If you decide to use this treatment method, you should immediately stock up on rubber gloves and a protective face mask so that the toxic fumes from the solutions do not cause poisoning.

Alkalis, such as cooker cleaners, are suitable as a base substance. The tree is covered with a solution in several layers and left for about 12 hours, no longer, depending on the substance and type of wood. Then it is thoroughly washed with a solution of vinegar. Its concentration is not more than 1 tsp. for 200 ml of water. When the surface dries, it must be sanded. Acrylic paint is applied to the processed material or varnished.

How much does wood aging cost?

The average price for brushing is from 350 to 1 thousand rubles per 1 m 2. The cost of services depends on the region, breed and size of the material. For example, processing 1 m2 of unpainted hardwood boards will cost 50-100 rubles more than the same lumber from pine or spruce.

If the client wants to immediately order the painting of raw materials, then the cost of work can be safely multiplied by 2. The consumer can find photos of the services offered on any website of the enterprise of interest.

Of course, the prices for such an imitation of antiquity are high. Therefore, you can stock up on the necessary set of tools, patience and make an antique masterpiece from wood at home, the quality of which will not be inferior to factory counterparts.

Brushing wood with your own hands is an interesting technology that allows you to artificially age a tree. The natural aging process takes decades. But now, with the help of special tools, this effect can be achieved at home quickly and without significant material costs. Aged material is ideal for decorating classic, vintage and rustic styles.

Brushing wood with your own hands: how the process is carried out

Residents of modern cities increasingly prefer styles with a pronounced individuality in the decor of the room: classic, vintage, rustic and country.

The main detail of such interiors is wood. Thanks to this material, the design of the room acquires a uniqueness and inimitable charm. But for a classic and vintage style, a tree in its original natural form is not suitable. In this case, an aged tree is best suited, which has a more attractive and noble appearance. This material is suitable for the manufacture of any element of decor: a vintage lamp, a wooden chest of drawers, stylish doors and window frames, fireplace lining.

Under natural conditions, the process of wood aging drags on for decades, since the original patterns on the wood surface are formed slowly and unevenly. Therefore, this material is rare and expensive. But among modern technologies there is a simple and fast way to artificially age a tree. This process is called brushing. Interest in this method is shown not only by lovers of elite vintage furniture, but also by those who want to diversify the interior of country houses.

Do-it-yourself wood aging (brushing) is a decorative technology for processing wooden products, during which an artificial effect of antiquity is created for an ordinary wooden surface. The method got its name from the English word brush - brush. The aging process is also called wood structuring.

The method of artificial brushing is based on the difference in hardness of the layers that make up the wood. In the process of work, the soft light layer is removed. As a result, the areas become embossed, which gives the material a special look that is inherent only in fairly old trees.

Types of safe finishing materials for interior decoration, their specificity and features of use, prices.

Process automation: machines and machines for brushing wood

Mass production of artificially aged wood requires speed of work. Some stages of wood processing can be mechanized, which will simplify the work of obtaining aged wood. To do this, you will need drills with speed control and special machines for brushing.

Consider the most popular models of specialized techniques for structuring a tree.

Festool rustofix ras 180 wood trimmer or brush machine. Wood brushing brushes can be purchased with this tool. They are of three types:

  • steel wire brush for primary processing of boards;
  • brush with synthetic bristles for intermediate grinding;
  • sisal or hair brushes for polishing the back surface of the product.

The Makita 974 grinder is used for brushing wood. But during operation, difficulties may arise with the processing of areas at the corners of the part. Therefore, at the joints, it is recommended to use a special angle grinder with different nozzles or use a nylon brush dressed on the grinder for brushing. Such a brush is highly wear-resistant and allows you to process the ends, edges and contours of parts with complex shapes.

The Felisatti AGF 110/1010E grinder is suitable for processing both smooth and uneven surfaces. The tool comes with nylon and metal brushes.

Helpful advice! It makes sense to buy a wood brushing machine only if large volumes of work are planned. Brushes for brushing wood can be bought both with a machine and purchased separately.

How to age a tree with your own hands: technology

The process of aging opens up the widest possibilities for the master to change the structure and color of different types of wood. Before proceeding directly to structuring, the wood must be prepared. The material for brushing should be free of defects, notches and irregularities, and the humidity should be 10-12%, but not more than 15%. If the tree does not meet these characteristics, then the wood fibers will tear during processing, and a beautiful result from structuring will not work.

Let us consider in more detail the process of how to age a tree at home. The work with the material can be divided into several stages.

Before starting work, it is necessary to perform the primary processing of the part, namely: to moisten the tree. This will prevent the spread of dust throughout the room during operation.

Next, you will need a manual brush for processing. Depending on the hardness of the wood, we choose the stiffness of the metal brush for roughing. The bristles of the tool must easily remove soft surface fibers, but must not damage hard ones. Move the brush in the direction of the fibers.

If you decide to automate the processing process using a brush for brushing wood on a grinder or grinder, then you should remember that the movements are carried out along the fibers. It is necessary to move the tool with such intensity that the fibers are effectively scraped out.

You need to carefully select the speed: too high a speed of the brush can cause the wood to bake. When using a hand tool, this problem does not arise, but more effort needs to be applied. Also, manual processing will be delayed in time.

Helpful advice! It is better to select the speed on a separate small sample of the tree. The optimal number of revolutions is 1500-2200, but for different breeds it may differ.

Then we carry out the primary grinding of the part. To do this, we use a polymer brush with an abrasive applied to it. This stage will remove roughness and fiber fragments from the surface of the part. By removing all unnecessary, you can evaluate how deeply and efficiently the structuring of wood is performed. If necessary, the grooves can be further deepened, making the structuring more distinct.

At the next stage, you can think about the decorative design of the part. For this, recesses and grooves of arbitrary shape are made with a chisel in different places of the part. In appearance, they will resemble cracks that appeared naturally.

Next comes the final polishing. To do this, you need a sisal or hair brush. This tool for wood will give the details a finished look, fully showing all the decorative texture. In manual processing, instead of a brush, fine-grained sandpaper with an abrasive surface is used. It will allow you to make a perfectly polished surface of the workpiece.

Then the wood must be well dried. It must be completely cleaned of dust and thus prepared for further painting and varnishing.

The application will make the product look old by creating contrasting textured patterns. A generous application of the compound with quick removal of excess will allow you to paint over parts with soft fibers and leave light areas with hard fibers. Soft fibers quickly absorb paint, which means they are dyed, while hard fibers do not have time to absorb the pigment during this time, so they remain light. A tree painted with gold or silver paint looks especially beautiful.

Against the background of the natural color of the tree, this pigment creates glare on the surface of the part in the sun. This gives the product an original decorative effect and luxury. The product will look especially presentable if the tree is patinated - painting over the deepest cracks with darker paint.

At the final stage, the product is polished again to remove the roughness and irregularities that appeared after staining.

Helpful advice! Lacquering is carried out on completely dry and cleaned wood. To paint brushed parquet, it is necessary to use a special parquet varnish. This will allow the finished coating to maintain a presentable appearance and performance characteristics for a long time.

Wood brushing: features of wood chemical structuring

Brushing with the help of chemistry is rare, even though the use of chemically active compounds greatly facilitates the process of artificial aging of wood. To carry out chemical processing of wood, it is necessary to have special knowledge and skills to work with chemicals. In addition, the method has a drawback - it is not always easy to buy the necessary reagents.

For the chemical structuring of a tree, acids are needed: hydrochloric and sulfuric, alkali and ammonia. Reagents applied to the surface of the material corrode the soft fibers. The master can only scrape off unnecessary wood.

Stages of chemical brushing of wood:

  1. Surface grinding and decontamination.
  2. Apply a thin layer of chemicals to the surface of the part. During chemical structuring, the evaporation of reagents must be monitored. If necessary, it is recommended to reapply them.
  3. When the chemical has taken effect, that is, it has softened the outer fibers, the part must be washed under running water and the remnants of the reagent removed with a soft bristle brush.
  4. Next, the tree must be thoroughly dried, painted or varnished.

The availability and demand for brushing allows you to perform this method at home. When structuring wood, it is imperative to adhere to safety regulations. Work with tools and a machine for brushing wood should be carefully and carefully. All artificial structuring processes must be carried out in special protective clothing, goggles and gloves. If antiseptic solutions are used during work or too much dust accumulates in the air from wood, then you should work in a respirator.

Brushing a wooden surface is an unusual way to make a piece of wood more beautiful, unusual and attractive. This method is very popular among interior designers and ordinary people, since everyone can artificially age a tree. You need to spend a little time and effort to get luxurious furniture or a chic original ceiling, stylized antique. For a better effect, patination of furniture can be carried out.

Artificial brushing of wood: the price of work

The main task of wood brushing is to create and emphasize the unique texture of the surface of the board. The result is a material with a clearly defined natural material pattern. The procedure is suitable for many types of material. The cost of standard brushing is 350 rubles. per sq. m. When ordering additional painting, the cost increases. The price of the work depends on the chosen type of wood, as well as on the size of the board.

The cost of each stage of artificial aging is usually calculated separately. You can order separately grinding or just impregnation. The most profitable option is a full brushing service from the beginning of work to the final coverage with the purchase of material. It is possible to perform artificial structuring from your material.

Wood brushing workshops perform an individual calculation of the cost of processing, depending on the type of wood, the size of the product and the list of services.

Brushing is performed over any kind of wooden materials:

  • bar;
  • lining;

  • planks;
  • block house;
  • planks.

Scope of application of tree structuring technology

The structuring method is very popular in the manufacture of interior items and room elements. Such wooden products will be an original addition to classic and vintage interiors. In addition, the advantage of brushing technology is the ability to independently create exclusive things. In addition, this method belongs to the category of simple processes available to everyone.

Fireplaces, shelves, columns, wall panels, as well as aged wood are used as ceiling beams with a brushed board. This material creates a unique entourage for living rooms and halls, halls of cafes and restaurants. The interior design is filled with aristocracy and luxury, and aged wood creates warmth and comfort in the room.

Wooden furniture with brushed elements looks stylish and sophisticated. Artificial aging and patination of wood with your own hands allows you to make absolutely any furniture: cabinets, chests of drawers, pegs, beds. The use of brushed elements in furniture and interior design has no restrictions and prohibitions - it all depends on your imagination and creativity.

Learn how to age a tree with your own hands in a loft style at home with your own hands and you can use it anywhere in production: for a wooden kitchen, Provence furniture, tables, etc. It turns out a wonderful color that will decorate the decor of any home! The use of modern wood in the design is, perhaps, a win-win option.

This is an incredibly attractive, breathable, pleasant to the touch natural material. It favorably affects the formation of the microclimate in the home, has bactericidal properties, and is useful for human energy. In any room, wooden ceiling beams, individual decorative elements will look great.

This wonderful material lends itself perfectly to a variety of types of processing.: It can be left natural, dyed, aged, and more.

There is no specific, unambiguous answer to this question.

This procedure is carried out for various purposes, most often it is:

How to make a tree old: brushing

There are many different ways to process a tree to get the desired result. Brushing, or texturing, is one of the most widely used.


The word brush is of English origin and means a brush. From him came the name of the technique, which consists in using the mentioned object to remove soft pliable fibers of the material. Very similar processes occur as a result of natural aging, but in this case they take a fairly large amount of time. This method is considered the closest to the natural natural changes that occur with the material.

With it, the wood acquires a distinct woody texture.

What tree can be aged: breeds

It is quite possible to give the surface of a wooden material an aged look with the help of brushing on your own, at home. The problem is that not every type of wood is suitable for such processing.

Maple, cherry, beech, pear, certain varieties of exotic plants are not amenable to this method of aging.

It is not suitable for products and surfaces made of MDF. What to do if there is no suitable material available? We'll have to use a different method, chemical. The wood of coniferous trees is best processed mechanically.

Brushing is a rather laborious procedure. The main tool for its implementation is an elastic and durable metal brush. It will not work to quickly change the appearance of the tree with its help, so you can speed up the process.

To do this, you will need either a drill with a special brush made of hard wire.

It should be noted that the use of electromechanical tools for woodworking can be very unsafe. The fact is that quite strong vibrations occur during the event, which can cause separation and sharp flying away not only of wooden chips, but also of metal elements.

Therefore, it is important not only to know how to age a tree, but also to be able to do it safely, without risking your own health. All activities are carried out in a special protective suit, eyes must be covered with camouflage goggles or a face shield. The airways are closed with a special respirator.

Chemical treatment during aging


Is it possible to age a tree by hand without the use of special devices and tools?
Coarse-grained sandpaper is required, with which the surface is cleaned. Ammonia (ammonia solution) is applied to the prepared material, from which the tree becomes noticeably darker.

Thanks to this treatment, the wood texture becomes more distinct, while the noble darkening gives the material a touch of exquisite antiquity.

Such processing can be superficial, fairly light in nature.. In this case, a non-coarse polymer brush is used. If the tree is subjected to deep processing, then even the annual rings of wood become noticeable.


Chemical method

The main thing is not to overdo it when performing this operation. Otherwise, the result of the effort expended will not be an elegant textured surface, but a loose, indefinite wood.

Regardless of the chosen processing method, after a rough initial cleaning, the wooden blank must be restored to its original aesthetics. Irregularities and burrs are carefully removed from the surface of the object, then it is removed with a special abrasive brush. Then the material is additionally lightened and glossed with fine sandpaper.

Aged wood effect: patina

Mechanical processing alone is not enough to obtain the desired effect of aged wood. What to do with the material next? You can cover the product with one of the types of varnish. The material looks very interesting after a special treatment - patination. It allows you to make the surface of the material even more embossed. Patina is a peculiar, unique gloss acquired by the material over time.


Applying patina: the process

His own recreation requires considerable effort, and is carried out in several separate stages. What is the patination process?

This is the application of special stains and compositions to the treated surface. In each case, they are selected individually, in accordance with the desired shade and color of the product.

The compositions should be applied in such a way that they find themselves in the pores of the wood, which open during mechanical processing.

The essence of this method is to make the deep pores of the material appear contrasting and dark against the general background, which is lighter. To carry out this procedure yourself, you need to choose a paint that matches the color. She completely stains the prepared surface, and, without waiting for complete drying, remove part of the top layer with a cloth or sponge. Such wood looks noble and looks like an old one.

But patination is not the only way to get the same or similar result. It is absolutely wonderful to age products with the help of special enamels. This method will allow you to get a real work of art, outwardly not much different from genuine antiques.

A layer of enamel of a certain color is applied to the surface. When it dries, it will be the turn for the next staining. For secondary application, a composition of a different shade, and a more liquid consistency, will be required.

When the treated rock is completely dry, its surface is easily processed with sandpaper. In some places, the initial layer appears, forming elegant scuffs.

Toning and varnishing

The patination process must be completed with tinting. To carry it out, you will need special formulations that contain resins and natural ones. As a finish, a coating of treated wood with a double or triple layer of varnish is used. After drying, the surface is treated with a soft cloth to give a special shine.


Such varnishing fixes all previous manipulations, gives the product a finished, finished look.

And although the process is quite complicated and time-consuming, anyone can master the art of working with wood.

The main thing here is to carefully study the technology, understand the sequence of stages, and strictly follow the instructions.

Secrets of high-quality brushing: how to age a tree

How to correctly carry out the brushing process so that the result is pleasing to the eye? You need to know some of the nuances of the process.


Aged wood: use in the interior


Wood treated in a special way can not be found in every dwelling.
The fact is that it is not enough just to age the wood.

The ability to correctly use it for interior design is of great importance. But the use of the described method of brushing allows you to make completely unique products, in fact exclusive.

These can be individual pieces of furniture, or entire sets and sets.

Chests of drawers, candlesticks, bookshelves, antique sideboards, frames for mirrors and paintings, country furniture and kitchen sets look especially interesting. This method of processing wood is great for the manufacture of individual doors and partitions.

The method of brushing wood is great for giving special effect to flooring and parquet boards. Often, such material is used for the author's decoration of the walls of saunas or home baths, billiard rooms, retro cafes, bars and non-standard rooms.


Set of chairs and tables

Various ways of wood aging technology are not a secret today. Throwing is not the only method, there are others. Between themselves, they differ in the amount of time required for the implementation of the process, as well as the complexity of the technology. But no matter what method is used to achieve the desired effect, in any case, an aged tree is capable of creating a completely unique atmosphere of warmth and comfort in any room, ennobling the interior with the refinement of antiquity.

Despite the variety of glossy facades, antique wood interior elements remain in demand. The purchase of such furniture will cost a pretty penny. In the case when you don’t really want to spend money, you should not refuse the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bhaving an aged chest of drawers or a table. You can try to age the furniture yourself. Let's try to figure out what technology is used to process semi-antique wood with our own hands. After all, natural conditions age a tree for many years. And to get the result quickly, you have to age the tree artificially.

You will not find semi-antique furniture in every home. It should be used where appropriate. The design of the room should be thought out in the appropriate style so that antique products look decent.

Usually, the tree aging procedure is performed for a specific purpose, namely:

  • Satisfy the taste of the dwellers.
  • Save money on antiques. It is much cheaper to buy inexpensive furniture and age artificially.

Using certain methods of aging wood, you can get exclusive things. Both the entire product and its individual parts are processed. Particular attention should be paid to items such as chests of drawers, sideboards, book shelves, mirror frames. They are most often aged, since it is difficult to imagine a vintage-style interior without these items.

Aging methods

The process of processing semi-antique wood with your own hands is carried out in several ways. The main ones are:

  • Chemical treatment - used for hardwoods.
  • Roasting or heat treatment is a universal option.
  • Machining or brushing - this way you can process products made of oak or needles.

Furniture for aging is selected massive, with a rough texture, so that outwardly it resembles hand-made objects of past centuries. Before processing, it is better to disassemble the furniture into individual parts. This will make it possible to process even hard-to-reach places.

To facilitate the achievement of the effect of aging wood, it is better to purchase material that is already damaged by a bug, with minor chips, cracks and knots.

If the process of aging a tree with your own hands is performed for the first time, then it is better to practice a little on separate unnecessary bars. The quality of the result depends on how well the solution, stain or varnish is applied. It is recommended to perform work outdoors so as not to harm your own health.

How to make new boards or furniture look like old products? Now you know that several techniques are used for these purposes. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Mechanical restoration

It is possible to age a tree mechanically in products from such species as pine, spruce, larch. It is these types of wood that have a pronounced texture, the presence of layers of fibers with varying degrees of hardness.

The main task during machining is the formation of various kinds of chips, potholes, cracks in an artificial way. You can achieve this by doing the following:

1. Wooden surfaces are processed with an ax or a special grinder. Potholes of various depths and widths are randomly applied to them. The bar is hewn, while you should not achieve special accuracy and symmetry.

2. After that, we proceed to grinding the surface with a brush with metal bristles. It will be easier to do this with a grinder and an appropriate nozzle. When processing, grinding is carried out along the fibers until the applied potholes and chips take the form of naturally formed defects on the wood.

3. Then we move on to the second degree of grinding. At this stage, we work with a brush with soft bristles and sandpaper. During this treatment, soft fibers are removed, and coarser ones remain. Thus, we get an uneven tree structure. In the same way, you can additionally highlight knots and cracks.

4. At the next stage, we work on the color of the wood. It is necessary to bring the light new wood as close as possible to the shade of the board darkened from old age. Here you can apply a stain or a dark shade of acrylic-based paint.

5. When the applied product is completely dry, we process the surface with fine-grained sandpaper. At the same time, we try to perform all actions carefully. The paint must be removed from the hills and ridges, and it remains in the potholes.

6. At the final stage, we open the treated surface with a colorless or light yellow varnish and dry it completely.

On the video: a method of mechanical aging of a wooden board.

As for the question of how to age wood on small items, such as small pieces of furniture or wooden utensils, here the process is slightly simplified. The surface to be treated is thoroughly cleaned with a brush from wood dust until the desired effect is achieved. The subsequent staining and opening with varnish is identical to the process described earlier.

Brushing should only be done by hand using a metal bristle brush until small dents and ridges are achieved.

Heat treatment

Wood can be aged by heat treatment. A feature of this method of aging is the complete absence of mechanical processes. The disadvantage is a certain danger to human health during the work. Therefore, they should be performed outdoors, while protecting the skin, eyes and respiratory organs.

Heat treatment or firing is done by exposing the wood to direct fire. Either a torch or a blowtorch should be used. It is necessary to burn to a depth of about 3 mm.

If heat treatment is carried out superficially, then the effect of aging will not be as pronounced as with stronger firing.

After finishing the heat treatment, perform the following steps:

  1. With the help of a metal brush or a grinder with a bristle nozzle, they begin to scrape off the carbon layer to the desired degree of antiquity. It is not necessary to paint the surface. Soot will highlight the entire structure.
  2. Sanding is done with sandpaper.
  3. A top coat of clear lacquer is applied to the aged wood.

chemical method

A tree can be aged during chemical treatment by means such as alkaline compounds or ammonia. You can use household chemicals that contain alkaline components.

The essence of the process lies in the fact that when the product gets on the wood, it burns out its soft tissues. The structure of a tree is distinguished by the presence of hard and soft tissues. When processing antique wood, soft tissues are removed in various ways.

In this case, the surface layer of wood is burned out with alkali, which in parallel paints it gray.

The next step is the process of washing off alkaline residues. To do this, you can use vinegar or citric acid. A solution of citric acid is prepared in the proportion: 1 teaspoon of acid per glass of water. If vinegar is used, then it should be a 9% solution. Acetic acid must not be used. Further, the treated surfaces are well dried, polished and varnished.

Aging a tree in all the ways listed above is quite simple if you make efforts and efforts. You can give the desired effect to any surface. Can be aged as small household items, furniture or even a wooden floor.

How to age wooden furniture (2 videos)

Wood brushing (30 photos)

The recent fashion for vintage products, cars and retro-style clothing has not bypassed the design of wooden products. Antique wood processing allows you to create an interior in new buildings that looks as if the apartment was inherited by the owners from their great-grandfathers. The owners of country houses decorate the facades and interior space with old wood. Artificially aged wood is used to make decorative false beams on the ceiling, stairs, doors and other design elements that give the house a resemblance to a medieval castle or a fairy-tale forest hut.

The high cost of artificially aged wooden objects makes home craftsmen want to make the necessary things with their own hands, achieving both a reduction in the cost of the product and its genuine uniqueness. Doing the work of aging a tree is not at all as difficult as it might seem from the outside. You just need to know about the main ways to achieve a beautiful textured surface on ordinary lumber, which can be purchased at any company that sells building materials and wood.

How to prepare for work?

There are 3 widely used wood aging methods:

  • chemical, which is only suitable for hardwood products;
  • thermal (firing) - applicable to wood of any species;
  • mechanical (brushing) - suitable for conifers and oak.

To work with wood, the following tools and materials are required:

  • axe;
  • drill or grinder with nozzles;
  • brush with metal bristles;
  • hair brush;
  • paint brushes;
  • stain, acrylic paint, colorless varnish, wax;
  • sandpaper.

When purchasing boards or timber from which it is planned to create an artificially aged thing, you can choose specimens that are already damaged by a bug, have chips and potholes on the surface, small cracks and knots. After processing, they will give a special charm to the "old" subject.

Wood components.

Ready-made furniture for aging is selected massive, a little rough or in a rustic style, similar to hand-made piece furniture of the last century. Before decorating in any way, it is best to disassemble a piece of furniture into its component parts. This will allow you to process all surfaces without leaving untreated areas in hard-to-reach places that will catch your eye.

Before you start decorating an item for the first time, you should practice and get your hand on various waste pieces of boards and any wood. The master will act more confidently, with knowledge of many of the nuances that may arise during work. On the same tutorials, it is convenient to select the tone of paints or stains, to evaluate in advance what will be the result.

Many operations (brushing, painting and drying after it, firing) should be done outdoors.

Mechanical aging of wood

The most affordable materials for purchase are coniferous wood: pine, spruce, larch. They have a pronounced structure and a pattern formed by fibers of different hardness. This makes them suitable for mechanical decoration.

With the help of tools that destroy the upper layers of the tree, you can achieve the effect of aging much faster than if it happened naturally. All abrasions, potholes and cracks can be simulated by 2 methods:

  1. On the surface of a board, beam or log with a sharp corner of an ax, apply potholes of different depths and vastness in a chaotic manner. Cut off the corners of the bar a little with an ax, without worrying about accuracy or a flat surface. After that, all surfaces treated in this way must be carefully sanded with a stiff brush with steel bristles. When grinding a large product, it is better to use a drill or grinder with a special nozzle. It is necessary to grind until all the sharp edges that have arisen during cutting with an ax acquire the outlines of natural damage smoothed out by time. It is important to remember that the movements of the brush should always be directed along the fibers. The next step will be sanding to remove protruding fibers and steel brushing with softer bristles than the 1st time. At the same time, part of the soft fibers is removed, forming shallow depressions between the ridges of the harder winter wood fibers. The same brush can additionally highlight knots and cracks.
  2. After polishing the light surface of the new product, it is required to give it a resemblance to the old wood darkened from time to time: paint it with stain or dark acrylic paint. After drying with a sandpaper with a medium grain, without strong pressure, rub the wood a little, removing the paint from the protruding ridges and hills. In this case, the dark color is preserved in the potholes and between the fibers. For final finishing, the product is covered with acrylic transparent or light yellow varnish, dried until completely dry.

http://1poderevu.ru/youtu.be/HVDFkEZOcm4

More "humane" way. Suitable for medium-sized products and furniture, wooden utensils and other small surfaces. Brushing is done by hand, with a brush with metal bristles. In this case, as in the previous case, the soft fibers are removed, leaving the ridges of hard wood. Wood dust is swept away with a hair brush, controlling the process by eye and achieving the desired degree of abrasion of the surfaces. After that, the product is painted and decorated, as indicated above.

Thermal and chemical wood processing

Thermal processing of wood.

These methods can be called related, since the destruction of the upper layer of the tree occurs almost without mechanical influences. These are more dangerous methods than the previous ones, so processing should be done in the air and in compliance with safety measures.

The essence of firing lies in the fact that soft fibers are destroyed when exposed to open fire. To do this, the surfaces of the workpiece are fired with a flame of a blowtorch or a special gas burner to a depth of 3 mm. With surface firing, the effect of aging will be insignificant, with deeper firing it will be more pronounced. The master at the same time regulates the process depending on his taste and needs.

After charring the top layer, a metal brush or a nozzle on a drill is put into action, scraping off the carbon deposits until the desired color and texture is obtained. Such wood can not be painted, because it will already have dark and light areas. The final processing consists in sanding and varnishing the product.

http://1poderevu.ru/youtu.be/tLyLU8Cl7yc

With the chemical method, antique wood decoration occurs in the process of exposure to alkalis or ammonia. To do this, you can use aerosols for cleaning stoves or a sewer cleaner. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the composition of the product before use, it must contain alkali. Particular attention should be paid to precautions when working with it.

Once on the surface of the tree, these chemicals "burn out" some of the soft fibers, while painting the tree gray. After treatment, all surfaces are washed with water and covered with a weak solution of table vinegar or citric acid (1 tsp per 200 ml of water), removing alkali residues.

When using vinegar, pay special attention to the fact that it should be 9% table vinegar, and not acid.

Dried products are subjected to brushing and staining, if necessary.

http://1poderevu.ru/youtu.be/ZkHaOFjT7Ao

Processing wood in the above ways will help the owner to decorate the interior of an antique apartment himself, without investing a lot of money and without spending a lot of time on it. The availability of materials and tools for processing allows both a sophisticated carpenter, a beginner, and even a woman with imagination and skillful hands to engage in this type of creativity.

Artificially aged wood is a unique finishing material. Practical, inexpensive, fully retaining its strength characteristics, but at the same time possessing original beauty and the charm of antiquity. The scope of such a tree is wide: interior design, furniture manufacturing, facade decoration, arbors, stairs, even fences are made from it. The most important thing is that wood processing does not require special knowledge or experience, and anyone can handle it. Let us consider in more detail how to age a tree on your own, and what is needed for this.

Artificially aged wood

Wood aging methods

There are three effective ways to age wood - mechanical, chemical and thermal. Depending on the chosen method, the final result has certain differences.

The mechanical method includes two types of processing - brushing and patination. Both types can be used together or separately, depending on the material and the desired result:

  • brushing - the surface is treated with a metal brush to remove soft fibers and expose annual rings. As a result of such processing, the upper layer acquires a pronounced relief, which is further emphasized by the application of glazing compositions. This method is the most time-consuming and is used mainly for hardwoods - pine, larch, spruce, oak, walnut;

Wood brushing

  • patination - surface treatment with coloring compositions, followed by polishing. It is used for soft woods, as well as wood with a slightly pronounced texture - maple, cherry, beech and others. Wood wax and stain can be used along with the paint to give a brighter pattern.

Patination

The chemical method consists in treating the top layer of the tree with various compounds that change the color of the fibers. Ammonia and products containing alkali, for example, liquid for cleaning stoves or sewers, are suitable for this. This method can only be used for rocks containing tannins, that is, hardwoods. Chemical treatment of coniferous wood will not give the desired effect.

The thermal method is the firing of wood with a gas burner or blowtorch. The type of tree does not matter. They do not burn much, if only the texture of the fibers appears more clearly, and then the carbon deposits are removed with a metal brush. Next, cover the surface with a stain or varnish to give the wood a more decorative look. In general, the process is not difficult, but requires caution and safety.

Burner-aged wood

brushing technology

brushed wood

Tools and materials for processing

In the process of work you will need:

  • hand planer;
  • chisel or small hatchet;
  • steel brush;
  • angle grinder with brush attachments;
  • sandpaper, large and small;
  • paint brushes;
  • dense sponge;
  • tinting antiseptic for wood (for example, "Pinotex");
  • white azure;
  • brush with soft bristles.

Wood brushing machine with two support rollers

Brushes for three-stage wood processing

Necessary materials

Rough cleaning should be done with a steel bristle bristle, but nylon and copper bristles are better for finishing. There is a special nozzle called "Piranha". It is a polymer-abrasive brush that can effectively remove soft fibers from the surface and leave hard ones. The grinder can be replaced with a drill, such nozzles are also produced for it. In extreme cases, you can get by with a hand tool, but this is long and tedious.

Piranha brush

The wood should be dense, strong, not damp. Resinous boards should also not be taken, as the resin makes processing difficult. The presence of knots is welcome, as they make the pattern more pronounced and decorative. In the absence of experience in such work, take a small piece of unplaned board or timber, up to half a meter long.

Wood processing

In the process of such work, a lot of fine dust is always formed, so it is best to do it in the fresh air. If the weather does not allow, take care of the possibility of airing the room and be sure to prepare a protective mask or at least goggles.

Step 1. The workpiece is laid on a flat surface and processed with a manual planer. It is better not to use an electric tool, as it leaves small transverse stripes, which reduces the naturalness of the pattern.

Processing wood with a planer

Step 2 With the help of a chisel or a corner of an ax over the entire surface, you need to make chaotic chips, shallow and shapeless, to give the material a rougher look.

Step 3 Now with a metal brush you need to tear off the soft fibers. The brush should be driven only along the fibers, pressing the tool against the board with force.

Brushing

This is what wood looks like after wire brushing

Advice. To reduce dust generation, it is recommended to lightly dampen the surface of the workpiece with water. But before grinding and impregnation, the tree must be dried.

This is how it looks after intermediate polishing with a polymer brush

And this is how it looks after the final grinding and polishing with a sesal brush

Step 4 When the relief begins to appear, the manual brush is replaced with a grinder with a metal brush, and work continues. The nozzle should be located perpendicular to the surface to be treated, movements should be performed strictly along the fibers. If you do not need too rough relief, take a Piranha brush or a nylon bristle brush right away and do not press hard on the tool during work. Wormholes and knots on the tree go around the perimeter to emphasize the contours.

Wood processing

Process the ends of the board

Step 5 With a soft brush sweep the resulting dust, and then proceed to grinding. You can sand the tree by hand or with a grinder, the main thing is to remove protruding fibers and sharp protrusions. In conclusion, the workpiece is once again cleaned of dust.

Step 6 Now the material needs to be given color. To do this, the surface is first coated with a Pinotex primer, which is applied with a brush along the fibers. You can use both stain and dark azure - any coating with color that will not hide the texture.

The photo shows an example of the coloring composition used.

Step 7 After applying the composition to the workpiece, give it a few minutes to soak, and then gently wipe the top layer with a sponge. It is not necessary to rub strongly, it is enough to gently rub 2-3 times along the fibers. After that, all the recesses will remain darker than the protruding edges, and the relief will appear more clearly.

Don't let leaks

A distinctive feature of good quality stains is that they show the texture of wood.

We rub the composition into the workpiece

After drying, the painted surface looks like this

Then two options are possible: leave this color and cover the wood with a transparent varnish or add another layer and give the material the look of an old bleached wood. The second option is suitable for processing elements in the Provence style. To do this, wait until the impregnation is completely dry, and apply white azure with a brush in a very thin layer. After it dries, the wood is lightly sanded with the finest sandpaper, cleaned of dust and coated with a colorless varnish.

Do-it-yourself wood aging

This method is also used: after brushing, the workpiece is covered with a dense layer of white glaze, dried and brushed again with a metal brush, but now not so intensively. Finally, a layer of clear varnish is applied.

Applying white paint

brush sanding

brush sanding

To make a dark tree, and not bleached, instead of white azure, the surface is thickly covered with stain or Pinotex, and the layer is made uneven. Next, use a brush or sandpaper, depending on what kind of finish you want to get. Sanding gives light blurry scuffs, and after the brush, rough grooves remain and the tree looks more brutal.

Aged wood, the grooves from the ax are well emphasized

How to make patination

Primary processing is carried out according to the technology described above: soft fibers are removed, relief is given and the surface is polished. Only after that, the workpiece can be patinated.

Step 1. Take any wood primer and carefully apply it with a brush to the wood. The primer should penetrate well into all grooves and recesses. Allow the workpiece to dry.

We apply a primer

Step 2 Apply the first coat of paint. Acrylic paint is best suited, because it is not prone to peeling, fits well on the surface, and does not leave streaks.

We apply paint on the photo composition of a smoky color)

You can choose any shade of paint you like.

Application of white paint, example

The choice of color depends only on your preferences, you can take any shades, the main thing is that they are saturated and contrast with the patina shade. The paint is applied with a brush, evenly distributing the composition in a thin layer. The base coat must dry completely, so they take a break from work for a day.

Take a break from work

Step 3 Sand the workpiece with fine sandpaper. Wipe the dust and apply a layer of patina with a brush. Patina for wood is best chosen in the color of bronze or gold, with a metallic tint. Here it is not necessary to evenly distribute the paint, on the contrary, the difference in coating density will only emphasize the effect of aging.

Grinding

Sanding emphasizes the relief of wood

Wood after processing

Step 4 When the patina begins to set, you need to take a dry rag and wipe certain areas. After the paint has dried, the wood is covered with a transparent varnish.

Spray varnish application

Effectively aged tree

Types of patina for wood

Acrylic patina

Water-soluble composition, characterized by slow drying, odorless and a wide variety of shades. Easy to apply and blend, perfectly emphasizes the surface relief

Wax patina

Very thick composition with a pearly sheen. It is applied to protruding areas with a dry brush, in recesses - with a sponge. Easily rubbed and gives the maximum effect of antiquity

bituminous patina

The composition is dark brown, most often used for shading relief. Easy to apply with a brush, does not spread, rubs well with a soft cloth

Oil patina

It has a paste-like consistency, applied with a dry brush or thick cloth. It is considered the best option for patination of wood

Thermal aging

First of all, take care of safety precautions. When firing wood, there should be no flammable objects and liquids nearby, and it is better to carry out such work in general in the fresh air. Be sure to check the condition of the burner or blowtorch.

Step 1. The workpiece is placed on a non-combustible surface or installed vertically, after which they proceed to firing with a burner. The material is treated as evenly as possible, the top layer should be charred by about 2-3 mm in thickness.

Processing wood with a burner

Technique of burning wood with a blowtorch

Thermal aging method

Step 2 After cooling, the charred soot is removed manually with a brush or with a grinder. The intensity and duration of this treatment depends on the desired texture.

Sanding burnt wood

Step 3. Having formed the desired relief, they take a grinding nozzle and process the workpiece again. Here it is important not to overdo it and not remove the excess, otherwise the aging effect will be insignificant.

Step 4 Since the color of the wood has changed during firing, dark and light areas have appeared, there is no need for painting. Now it remains only to cover the material with a colorless varnish or protective impregnation.

Thermally aged wood

Chemical way of aging

The use of chemically aggressive substances requires special care and accuracy in work. Be sure to use protective gloves, and the room should be well ventilated. The workpiece is pre-treated with coarse sandpaper and wiped from dust. Then alkaline products or ammonia are applied with a brush and left for several hours. To slow down drying, you can cover everything with a film on top. Under the influence of ammonia and alkalis, the surface acquires a gray tint, characteristic of old weathered wood.

Chemical way of aging

When the color of the workpiece has completely changed, it is rinsed with water, and then wiped with vinegar solution (a tablespoon in a glass of water) to remove the remaining alkali. If ammonia was used, the vinegar solution is not needed. After drying, the wood is brushed, sanded and a protective coating is applied. It is not necessary to paint such material, because then the meaning in chemical processing disappears, and it is easier to do everything mechanically.

Artificial aging

Outdoor use of aged wood

Such a decorative material is great for decorating facades in a rustic style. First of all, this is the German half-timbered style: the original wall decoration involves the use of wooden beams of a rough texture, giving the building a characteristic look.

Country-style decoration also allows the use of aged wood: this is the sheathing itself, and shutters, and front doors, as well as decorative elements.

Railings, steps, support pillars at the porch - all this can also be made using the described wood processing methods. By practicing on small pieces, you can effortlessly cope with any surface. Of course, large-volume elements, such as cladding for a house, are not so easy to process manually, but there are special machines for sale for this. The most important thing is to have a desire, and then everything will definitely work out.

Video - How to age a tree

Video - Wood patination

Video - Wood aging by firing

Video - Chemical way of aging wood

Choosing the appropriate design of the room, it has become fashionable to give wood products the effect of antiquity. There are several technologies that will visually add age and make decor details uniquely handmade.

They are easy to use, so you can do it on your own, saving money from the family budget.

Why is this kind of processing necessary?

The whole world around a person is filled with electronic assistants, artificial materials. Under these conditions, it is not surprising that among urban residents it has become popular to use wood in interior design in order to get a little closer to nature.

Carrying out the processing of antique boards or timber, the owner receives an exclusive product, because each tree has its own unique relief.

In addition, the aging technology significantly increases the strength of raw materials, in contrast to the natural effects of the environment and time.

And thanks to the coating of wood with protective solutions and varnishes, its service life is extended, in addition, paint or varnish prevents insects from entering, and prevents the process of wood decay.

This type of decorative finish is used for ceiling beams, flooring, furniture.

However, it is important to understand that not all lumber is suitable for this type of work. You can not use the aging technique for the following types of wood:

  • cherry, pear (other fruit species);
  • maple;
  • alder.

Therefore, for semi-antique wood processing, it is better to purchase hardwoods, perfect for:

  • nut;
  • ash;
  • larch;
  • pine.

And after performing a high-quality tinting of the product, you can get an imitation of an expensive type of wood, taking as a basis a budget-priced pine or ash tree.

Important! Old trees require more careful processing, as they have many layers with different densities. Therefore, in order to accurately determine the age of raw materials, you need to pay attention to the number of rings on the cut: the more there are, the older the tree.

What methods of aging should be paid attention to?

You can create antiques from furniture in three ways, these include:

  1. Brushing wood. A type of machining in which the aging of the relief is achieved through the use of abrasive tools - metal brushes.
  2. Roasting wood. Thermal action on the raw material allows you to change the pattern and color of the fibers. The main means are gas burners and blowtorches.
  3. The use of chemistry for the aging of wood. The material is impregnated with solutions of alkalis or acids, under the influence of which the cellulose is destroyed unevenly, thereby changing the relief of the tree.

But also patination of wood is also distinguished, when special paints, wax or stains are applied to the raw materials in several layers, which, being absorbed, visually give the surface of the product an age.

Masters who will practice such an imitation for the first time with their own hands are recommended to practice a little on pieces of boards or timber in order to clearly understand all the nuances of the process.
It should be noted right away that if it is necessary to process the finished product, then it would be correct to initially disassemble it so that the entire surface has a uniform coating.

And to create an author's masterpiece, you should pay attention to wood slightly damaged by insects, the external environment, where there are knots, chips, because in the end such a product will look luxurious. Therefore, it will perfectly complement the kitchen, veranda, living room in the style of "Country", "Provence".

Thematic material:

  • How to paint a gazebo
  • Impregnation for wood processing
  • Protection of wood from decay and moisture

mechanical way

This type of aging is called wood brushing, since brush in translation from English is a brush. It is this building element that performs the bulk of the work.

With the help of brushes, soft layers are removed from the surface of the wood, and the material acquires a relief. However, the desired effect will be obtained only when the cleaned raw materials are treated with paint or varnish, emphasizing and giving contrast to the pattern.

Important! For brushing, it is necessary to choose a tree with a clearly defined fibrous structure, otherwise the whole processing process may come to naught.

To carry out this method of aging, you need to have the following tools at hand:

  • Bulgarian;
  • electric drill;
  • hard and soft metal brushes;
  • sandpaper;
  • paint brushes;
  • stain;
  • acrylic paint;

And in order not to harm health, all operations must be performed in an open space, adhering to safety rules.

Important brushing steps

Mechanical aging simulation consists of 3 main steps. Among them:

  1. Chernova. A nozzle made of a metal brush in the form of a circle is installed on the grinder. The surface is processed along the fibers, while the pressure of the hand should not change so as not to damage the relief of the material.
  2. Finishing or grinding. The electric drill is equipped with a brass brush, a grinder with a less rigid metal brush is also suitable, while the rotational speed of the tool must be reduced. The entire surface is processed, as a result of which various burrs, roughness must be eliminated. And in order for the wood to become pleasant to the touch, it is better to go over the top with sandpaper a couple more times.
  3. Coloring and polishing. The final step, thanks to which the product acquires the expected antique look. A layer of stain is applied to the material, then gently washed off with a rag, due to which only soft parts of the raw material acquire color. If desired, you can add paint in bright colors. After drying, the wood is polished and varnished.

An option for aging products can be the use of craquelure varnish. After applying this varnish, cracks appear on the surface, into which paint can be rubbed and the raw material acquires a contrasting pattern.

wood burning

The impact of the high temperature of the fire on the raw material allows you to achieve the effect of antiquity in a short time.

As a tool, it is better to take a gas burner, since the blowtorch will smoke a lot, which can ruin the surface to be treated.

Operating procedure:

  1. The material is burned by the burner to a depth of 3 mm evenly over the entire area. In this case, you should carefully watch so that the tree does not catch fire.
  2. The charred layer of raw materials is removed with a metal brush.
  3. The surface is polished with sandpaper.
  4. Painting in this case is not necessary, you can simply apply a clear varnish to the product.

But you need to understand that firing indoors is prohibited and life-threatening.

Chemical method

If you decide to use this treatment method, you should immediately stock up on rubber gloves and a protective face mask so that the toxic fumes from the solutions do not cause poisoning.

Alkalis, such as cooker cleaners, are suitable as a base substance. The tree is covered with a solution in several layers and left for about 12 hours, no longer, depending on the substance and type of wood. Then it is thoroughly washed with a solution of vinegar. Its concentration is not more than 1 tsp. for 200 ml of water. When the surface dries, it must be sanded. Acrylic paint is applied to the processed material or varnished.

How much does wood aging cost?

The average price for brushing is from 350 to 1 thousand rubles per 1 m2. The cost of services depends on the region, breed and size of the material. For example, processing 1 m2 of unpainted hardwood boards will cost 50-100 rubles more than the same lumber from pine or spruce.

If the client wants to immediately order the painting of raw materials, then the cost of work can be safely multiplied by 2. The consumer can find photos of the services offered on any website of the enterprise of interest.

Of course, the prices for such an imitation of antiquity are high. Therefore, you can stock up on the necessary set of tools, patience and make an antique masterpiece from wood at home, the quality of which will not be inferior to factory counterparts.

You can personalize your interior in a variety of ways. Most often, this is done by focusing on certain little things, for example, the use of unusual textures or colors. One of the technologies in demand for the formation of the original texture is do-it-yourself wood aging. The technique allows you to give the surface a unique pattern, while the basis is natural material.

The need for a procedure

Those who want to make antique furniture with their own hands should learn how to give its surface the most realistic appearance. For this, an artificial process is used - brushing (from the English brush - brush). During operation, the fibers of the wooden elements are structured. In nature, a tree reaches such a visual state over a longer period, but using modern tools, this time interval can be significantly narrowed.

Under natural conditions, an aged tree loses its strength, and under artificial impact, the reverse process occurs, depriving the material of weak fibers and providing greater strength.

Such treatment also helps to protect the surface from the effects of bark beetles and other insects. As a result, it will be possible to achieve the necessary colors and stylish appearance. You can age a tree with your own hands for any need: from small photo frames or boxes to making furniture or parquet.

The use of wood species

It is important to consider that not every type of wood can be processed in this special way. The final quality is influenced by the structure of the natural material. In most cases, artificial aging of a tree is applied to the following species:

  • larch;
  • nut;
  • ash.

The internal structure of the tree should have a visible fibrous pattern. It will become the basis for the formation of the invoice. Deprived of this property, wood species with extremely hard fibers are not commonly used. These include:

  • pear;
  • maple;
  • cherry;

The task of the performer is to directly influence the soft structure located between the annual rings. In the presence of the most homogeneous environment, it will not be possible to form the aging of a tree with your own hands.

So, for example, by burning, you can turn ordinary pine into a rare and valuable species of tropical wood obtained from the Wenge tree.

VIDEO: We turn pine into wenge

Application of the mechanical method

When carrying out a full cycle of brushing, the following algorithm of actions is carried out:

  • primary machining using a metal brush to cut off soft particles from the surface of the workpiece

  • carrying out grinding work with a roughing brush with polymer bristles or the use of sandpaper with a coarse abrasive;
  • applying stain or other types of dyes to the treated surface;
  • polishing work or applying several layers of varnish, in the intervals between drying, sanding “zero” is performed

During artificial aging of wood, drills or grinders are used to reduce the amount of manual labor and increase productivity. The process uses brushes with aluminum, steel, copper and artificial polymer bristles.

Do-it-yourself wood aging, as shown in the video at the end of the chapter, begins with roughing, when the tool is driven along the arrangement of the fibers with the same speed and uniform pressure over the entire surface.

Processing should not form unwanted "pits" in the blanks, so you need to enter the tool evenly, without much pressure, if the idea does not require the formation of a target rough relief.

The light during work must be of high quality and provide a vision of the natural pattern. In this regard, the lamp beams are directed perpendicular to the length of the fibers. In such a situation, the desired pattern is shaded.

The moisture content of the processed wood is selected in the range of 15-16%. This value will provide the preferred finish surface roughness without raised villi. If, before aging a tree at home, you use a polymer processing tool, you will achieve an effect with a less pronounced relief.

The next step in the form of sanding will cut off the raised wood pile from the fibers. Sandpaper or abrasive brushes successfully cope with the task. You can control the degree of roughness manually.

VIDEO: Do-it-yourself artificial aging of wood. Carpentry Tricks

Applying a coloring layer

The prepared relief with the help of mechanical means is processed by staining. This will significantly enhance the result and hide fresh peeling by mechanical means. Thanks to the play of colors, it will be possible to obtain the required presentable effect.

It is customary to stain similar antique wood products with stain, and then wash it off. This will allow the material to enter almost instantly into the soft structure of the tissues, while the hard one will not have time to absorb the applied color. The natural beauty of the material will fully manifest itself outside.

It will be possible to leave particles of gold paint on the surface if you apply a small layer of it with a brush, and then remove the residue from the surface with a hard spatula. The particles will penetrate into the depressions and pores, which will ensure a successful result.

You can protect the cavities and grooves formed during the machining process with a transparent putty. This technique is useful in the manufacture of countertops, shelves or other practical surfaces. During their operation, fine dirt will not be clogged into relief zones.

Since the tree must be artificially aged carefully and with the possibility of its use, the finishing operations are:

  • polishing;
  • varnishing;
  • waxing.

It will also be possible to achieve an interesting texture for designers with the help of craquelure varnishing. It forms small cracks and chips on the front side. Paint or coal dust must be rubbed into them, providing a unique individual pattern.

Choose craquelure in specialized stores and within expiration dates. In most cases, expired varnish does not give a cracking effect.

Using chemical brushing

In the process of chemical action on the fibers, it is possible to achieve similar results that are obtained from mechanical processing. For this, active solutions are used that can affect the structure of the soft fiber. Corroding the desired areas, an original pattern is formed on the surface of a wooden blank.

Chemical brushing

The technique does not require the use of brushes and sandpaper during the active phase. For several cycles of applying and washing off the solution, the canvas is transformed.

In pickling, preparations are used that contain particles that are poisonous to humans, therefore, in order to prevent poisoning of the body with chemical vapors, it is recommended to work in open space.

The chemical solutions that are used in fiber softening contain a high percentage of alkali. You can take for this purpose a drug that cleans the oven. After a good rubbing, the layer is washed off, and the cycle is repeated until the desired effect is obtained. After etching, the finishing operations coincide with those that were carried out during machining.

Work with chemicals should be carried out in compliance with personal protective equipment: gloves, goggles, a petal and a protective gown or apron. After the operation, all residues of the substance from the surfaces are washed off under running water.

VIDEO: How to make an antique wood table top with your own hands

Interior and household items decorated with artificially aged wood:

Table and chairs - made of larch

Kitchen. Facade - larch, shelves - pine