Actually, the aging process of wood itself is quite long and depends on the conditions of initial processing, operating conditions and environment. Therefore, here I will describe several types imitation old wood and, accordingly, furniture that is made or is being made from it.
You can select two areas of techniques and technologies artificial aging(aging) wood:
Mechanical impact for wood
Playing with color
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Mechanical impact on wood
Can be divided into the following imitations, which by themselves do not provide plausibility and are therefore used in conjunction with color scheme:
* relief texture of old wood (brushing);
* destructive effects of tree pests (bark beetles, larvae...)
Hitting wood with a bag/sock/glove containing nails
Drilling wormhole holes and “drawing” wormhole grooves with a 1-5 mm drill
* random mechanical damage during operation (when carrying furniture, something fell, maybe hit the furniture...)
* abrasion in places of frequent contact with clothing, shoes, hands, and other parts of the body (for example, like old worn-out wooden steps of a staircase)
* old and manual methods processing:
- "crooked" cut
Uneven wood surface (an angle grinder with an abrasive attachment can be removed carelessly top layer from the surface of a furniture board or any wooden piece)
Tool marks
- "mistakes" of the carpenter...
Playing with color
Here are the simulations:
* valuable types of wood (this does not apply to aging, but to playing with colors it does)
* changes in wood color unfavorable conditions environment (darkening, dullness of wood texture, wood contamination, “patina”, blue discoloration, rot)
* aging of the paint surfaces themselves (for example, the formation of a network of cracks / crackle technique, craquelure / or imitation of paintwork wear)
* repainting (when old layers are visible through the “new” coating... there are many photos with it in the article)
* use in itself natural oils and wax can emphasize the “antiquity” of aged furniture
And a few more photos of painted wood that lives on the street: 
An extreme method is to use a torch. Required areas are set on fire to the desired condition and excess “coals” are removed until desired effect. Naturally soft fibers burn deeper.
Chemical aging of wood
There are, of course, enthusiasts who poison wood with active chemicals, such as alkali, ammonia and various acids (oak, for example, is advised to poison with vitriol). This treatment changes color and usually “eats” soft wood fibers, and in hardwoods it reveals pores.
Typically applied as gels, soaked or steamed.
You can see more details here:
Dyes and pigments in combination with varnishes, paints, oils and waxes can “age” wood, both by independent methods and by emphasizing mechanically “aged” wood. You can read about which oils polymerize in the article on wood stabilization.
Here is one of successful examples artificial aging of wood(photo 1200*900):
And another selection real examples artificial aging of wood:
I promised to tell you a long time ago how to age wood specific example . An example is:
1. Creation base surface mechanical aging of wood:
Smoothing and sanding sharp corners in areas of likely greatest use
This technique is also used in other places, but our subconscious still associates such places as very worn out and old
Applying traces of machining
In my case, these are marks from an abrasive tool.
2. Sanding fine abrasive (180) over the entire surface
3. Applying a base paint coating. This can be a regular clear or tinted varnish for tinting. The photo shows the top board.
This is done so that the wood does not dry out and creates an intermediate layer for “patina”.
The tinted varnish is applied and the excess is immediately wiped off with a dry cloth to reveal the wood texture, mechanical damage and leaving rag marks.
4. More detailed mechanical aging wood:
Marking and drilling wormholes
Refinement and/or addition of major damage (abrasions, impacts, scratches)
Adding a network of minor damage with a bag of nails, screws, nuts, balls and other metal “garbage”
5. Gentle sanding (400)
6. Application"patinas". In quotes because this is not a patina, but an imitation of old “age-old” dirt that looks like the patina that forms on metal
It is applied in the same way as tinted varnish, only more carefully. It should get into all the depressions and damage and leave picturesque stains. We “draw” darkened areas of the tree near a cluster of wormholes...
If you sand off the top layer of paintwork at this stage, you will get the same effect as in the second photo. The third photo shows the same thing, but with tinting.
7. Gentle sanding(400) and sanding off the patina on external corners and places of frequent use (bottom board in the photo in point No. 3).
8. Applying tinted varnish. It is applied creatively so that uneven colors and strokes are visible.
On the right is tinted varnish, on the left is “patina”.
9. Gentle sanding (400)
10. Conventional protective varnish with interlayer grinding. You can blow it out with a spray gun.
11. Applying diluted “patina”. Rub it into all the cracks. We wait until it dries and polish the surface along the tops so that the patina remains only in damage, depressions and internal corners.
In the second photo on the left is a finished board made of aged wood with “patina”, on the right without it.
Ready.
Anything else I remember, I’ll add. What you remember, also add in the comments.
[comments/discussion]
| Elena (14:04 01/29/2019) http://master-san01.ru/starenie-drevesiny-svoimi-rukami/#more-34 |
| Elena (13:53 01/29/2019) If you buy paint in specialty stores, they can tell you how to work, what you shouldn’t mix with what, and how to achieve a certain result. samples are also available. http://master-san01.ru/starenie-drevesiny-svoimi-rukami/#more-34 |
| Andrew (08:39 07/15/2014) If I understand correctly, then - first tint the floor in an “ash” color - then varnish (possibly several layers) - applying black paint and erasing it from hard wood fibers (or there are special patinas that are erased when dry) - more varnish (possibly several layers) It is better to select a specific technique experimentally with the paintwork materials you are thinking of using. |
| IGOR (22:29 07/14/2014) GOOD NIGHT! I got acquainted with your technology for painting brushed wood Haven't practiced it yet. I want to ask you a specific question: how to paint brushed pine, spruce to look ashen with black veins, oak, I wanted the veins to be clearly expressed and the solid structures to be whitish, how to do this I'm in the apartment oak parquet covered with tinted (walnut) Penotex Tikikurila and then 2 layers of b.ts Selko varnish - the structure was expressed, but it’s oak, but what to do with a pine tree the internal painting surface is about 250 m2, some kind of technology (and preferably on a budget) is needed, if it’s not difficult, please advise, thanks in advance. |
If you want to achieve attractiveness and nobility from the wooden elements of your interior, it’s enough to simply age them. Moreover, this can be done easily at home by choosing good way. In this article we will talk about popular methods artificial aging things and their techniques.
Strange as it may sound, wood that smells of antiquity looks much more beautiful in the interior.
From this material you can make an original lamp, stand, chest of drawers, table, closet, window sill, doors, floors or garden bench. Any item will radiate comfort and warmth. Besides, today everything old is in fashion.
Did you know? On globe There are more than a dozen wood species that are equal in hardness to iron. They are practically impossible to process and sink in water. They are even used in mechanical engineering to make structural elements and nails. These are temir-agach, parrotia, yew, azobe, Schmidt birch, ulin, jatoba, sukupira.
If you wait until the natural process of wood wear occurs, it will take a lot of time. It takes dozens of years for the natural pattern on the material to acquire a specific interweaving of dark and light tones under the influence of the sun and wind. 
After all, in the cold season, dense fibers grow, which are the frame. In summer, loose and light tissue is formed. It is this that wears off over time, which gives the boards their antiquity.
This effect is successfully used by current designers, thus turning even the cheapest wooden objects into attributes of luxury and style. Without it, you cannot create country, Provence, retro, shabby chic, vintage styles.
In addition, purchased antique furniture will last much less than new, but artificially dilapidated.
Provence, shabby chic and vintage in design
Many popular styles modern design characterized by the use of worn and shabby objects and details in the interior, pastel tones and romantic decorative elements.
Did you know? Every year, for their needs, people cut down about 15 billion trees of the entire green fund of the planet, while replenishing it with only 5 billion new seedlings.
This style was first discussed in the 19th century by the French living in the province of the same name. Their traditions are intertwined with everyday peasant chores and southern nature became the basis for the development of a new direction in design.
Provençal houses were distinguished by their elegance and simultaneous simplicity, with a reverent attitude towards the things of their ancestors. It was these family heirlooms that became the personification of the spirit of southern France. 
This style is characterized by:
- predominance white and all shades of beige;
- fragments artificially faded in the sun;
- multi-colored palette in decor, accessories (flower patterns, stripes, pastoral and checkered patterns are often found);
- many elements made of wood in decoration;
- artificially worn ceramic tiles (chips, untreated stone, brick, ethnic);
- porcelain dishes, forged mirror frames, textile napkins and tablecloths;
- lighting items with elements of forging, cotton and linen;
- lathed panoramic windows;
- rustic furniture classical forms with elements of wood, forging and weaving.
Did you know? The tallest tree in the world is considered to be the sequoia from California. Its trunk has grown to a height of 115 meters, and its diameter reaches 8 m.
It represents a completely new direction in interior design. It originated in Great Britain about 30 years ago.
Its basis is the characteristic British restraint, conservatism, frugality and passion for everything that is old but of good quality. 
The shabby chic style is manifested in the following characteristics:
- lack of white tones;
- the prevalence of pale shades: blue, pink, lavender, yellow and milky;
- bright contrasting colors;
- usage ceramic tiles under dilapidated painted wood, wild stone or plaster, as well as with a small floral pattern;
- on the white plastered ceiling there is classical stucco molding in the tone of gold leaf, as well as bleached fragments of the ceiling;
- wood and metal textures that imitate aging;
- The interior items used are mainly restored antiques, textiles, artificially aged photo frames, antique candelabra, fresh flowers, porcelain dolls and figurines of angels;
- the lighting contains crystal, forging, fabric lampshades and ancient pendants;
- restored furniture made of expensive wood, painted forged metal parts.
Did you know? In the United States of America, all crafts made before 1830 are classified as antiques, in Canada - before 1847, and in the UK - before 1917.
It was invented by the French, laying the fundamental foundations on the uniqueness and emphasized originality of ancient worn-out interior items.
Initially, this was the name for wine aged for many years, but over time a whole design style was formed.
His main feature consists in using antique items that must accurately correspond to the fashion trends of their era. 
Vintage interiors are characterized by:
- prevailing white, beige and milky shades, as well as contrasting shades - burgundy, green, graphite, purple;
- drawings with flowers and vegetation;
- artificially made flaws;
- flooring made of wood, marble or ceramics, but always with a worn effect;
- not overloaded in decor (only valuable antique objects, photographs, mirrors, paintings, candelabra are used in doses);
- stucco molding in a classic style;
- use of natural materials, forged elements, crystal, linen, wool;
- the spirit of restraint and elegance present in the interior design;
- antique furniture made of wood and wrought metal.
Step-by-step instructions for aging wood
Modern craftsmen have long mastered many methods of artificially weathering wood. Each of them has its own advantages and differences. Let's find out which ones exactly.
The technique of mechanical stylization of antiquity is done in several ways by treating wood with a stiff brush or applying two layers of paint. 
Processing wood with a stiff brush
The first option is called brushing, and the second is patination.
The essence of the method is to extract soft wood fibers, resulting in a clearly defined relief on the surface of the board. The same thing happens in nature after tens of years.
Video: how to age wood - brushing Experts consider brushing to be the most simple method, but are encouraged to take a responsible approach to the choice of wood. For this, it is better to use conifers with a clear pattern.
- maple;
- fruit trees (cherry, pear, apple);
Important! When working with lumber, do not forget to protect your face and eyes from splinters and dust with a mask or goggles. A respirator wouldn't hurt either..
When the choice of material is made, you can begin to work.
Experienced craftsmen advise initially practicing on some unnecessary pruning in order to “fill up” your hand:
- Take gas burner and pre-treat the material with it. Do not lose your vigilance: burn the material without holding the device for a long time. Do not allow the resin to ignite.
- If thermal procedures are not provided, before work, be sure to moisten the board with a damp brush and let it dry for about 3 minutes.
- Place it on a grinder or electric drill wire brush with special nozzle and in the direction of the grain, move from one end of the board to the other, thus removing the soft fibers. It is important to do this in one touch, and not in jerks.
- Leaf sandpaper with a fine dusting, polish the surface thoroughly.
- Remove any remaining dust using a vacuum cleaner or a soft-bristled wooden brush. All movements should be directed along the fibers, and not across.
- If you wish, you can improve your masterpiece by imitating bark beetle tracks. This is done using a thin drill. Angular holes should be chaotic but compact.
- To create a complete look, cover the surface with wax with coloring elements or paint or varnish. Some designers advise to approach this stage of work creatively, combining light and dark colors. In this case, they should be distributed accordingly on the depressions and convexities.
- If the paint is monochromatic, run sandpaper over the relief to make it abraded.
- Finally, coat the board with varnish. The mesh of cracks, which is obtained after coating with special craquelure paints and varnishes, looks very impressive.
Burner-aged wood
Important! When purchasing lumber, take into account their classification. To create a worn-out effect, class C is more suitable, which is characterized by an unlimited number of knots (including fallen ones), cracks and depressions. If the spirit of excessive antiquity is not to your liking, you can give preference to AB class boards. They have much fewer defects.
Once upon a time, patina was the name given to a thin oxide coating on copper products. Today it is a popular technique in processing both metal and wood products.
The method is labor intensive, although it is carried out using special reagents. Its implementation requires extreme accuracy, perseverance and attentiveness.
If you have no experience with such techniques, it is advisable to practice on scrap wood. Designers love to use patination when decorating homes in country and classic styles. 
The most simple option Experts believe that such deterioration of wood is caused by rubbing wax into the relief convexities of the surface, which creates the effect of abrasion. We are let's go the way applying patina.
So let's get to work:
- Use sandpaper to thoroughly polish the surface of the board, removing as much old paint as possible.
- Use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining dust.
- To enhance the adhesive properties of wood, prime it (it is important to choose a primer for antique restoration) and dry.
- After a day, you can begin applying the patina. For this it is better to get acrylic paint. You must act with the utmost caution. After painting, the surface must dry within 24 hours.
- Apply the next layer of bronze or metallic paint in small strokes in all directions. It is important not to overdo it with the amount of patina. Immediately, without allowing the applied layer to dry, rub off any excess with a piece of foam rubber.
- When the paint begins to dry, use a dry rag to rub any bulges, which will provide an antique effect.
- Cover the entire surface with varnish. This will give it sophistication and protect it from mechanical damage and excessive dampness.
Video: patting furniture
Important! Patination is not used on parts with which people often come into contact. The paint wears off very quickly, which gives the effect of untidiness instead of an antique spirit..
The aging effect is achieved through complex processing of lumber. This technique is carried out in several stages:
This method looks original only on deciduous trees, since their wood contains tannins. When in contact with chemicals, they darken, resulting in a worn-out effect.
Important! If signs of fungus appear on the wood, a special chlorine-based bleach will help get rid of the problem. Please note that it penetrates 3 cm deep into the material.
The technology is characterized by its simplicity and the presence of different variations, with which you can achieve a greater or lesser degree of aging.
Be sure to sand the surface with a piece of coarse sandpaper before work. Then choose a method to suit your taste:
- Spray the board generously with ammonia. By reacting with the material, the substance will provoke the appearance of noble darkening. If we are talking about aging a certain area on the wall, you can unevenly distribute the reagent, which will enhance the effect.
- Use a polymer brush to brush the board so that the growth rings clearly appear. Then cover the lumber with stain and varnish.
- Paint the sanded surface with enamel paint and dry it. Apply a second paint of a thinner consistency to the dried layer. Let it dry and sand individual areas of the wood with fine sandpaper.
- Coat the wood with a water-based stain. After this, partially wash off the coating in the middle zone, leaving the edges dark.
Even at home, you can make fragments of decoration and decor look antique, although in fact they will be completely new. In this process, it is important to show maximum imagination and diligence, and then your wooden objects will look no worse than those put up for sale in antique salons.
Many design styles (French, Tuscan, vintage, shabby chic and others) are characterized by the presence of antique wood products among their elements. The worn paint and texture of old wood add a special charm to the interiors. In their work, designers actively use antique furniture, wall panels, floors, stairs, beams, columns, etc. small decor. However, antiques are not cheap, which greatly inflates the cost of projects, and wooden elements from the past do not differ in strength and durability. To solve these problems, artificial aging of wood has appeared, and you can even do it yourself.
Aging Methods
There are several ways to age a wooden surface. The choice of the desired aging method is influenced by the type of wood, features designer style, availability necessary tools and materials, professional skills and experience. Most common the following types artificial aging of natural wood:
- chemical method;
- heat treatment;
- aging wood using the dry brush method.
Chemical method
In order to process wooden products This method requires special chemical reagents, professional tool, certain qualifications and knowledge. Caustic substances (acids, alkalis or copper sulfate), after which the wood changes color and the soft fibers are destroyed. The process itself is fraught with health hazards and requires increased safety measures. It is almost impossible to implement such artificial aging with your own hands and at home.
Heat treatment method
The essence of this technological process is to burn less dense layers of wood using an open fire. It consists of several stages:
- annealing of soft fibers until the desired wood texture is obtained;
- cleaning the surface with abrasive materials;
- applying varnish.
To implement this method with your own hands, you can use quite accessible tool- an ordinary blowtorch.
Brushing
The name of this technique comes from English word“brush”, which means brush. Brushing is based on the structural features of wood, consisting of hard and soft fibers, and the process itself consists of combing soft fibers out of wood using a metal brush and giving the surface the texture of old wood. Do-it-yourself brushing can be divided into a number of successive stages:
- machining wood along the grain;
- cleaning from chips and lint;
- glossing;
- applying stain or patination;
- varnish coating.
Despite the fact that the brushing tool seems extremely simple, the process itself is quite labor-intensive. When using this method of applying a patina of antiquity to wooden products, it should be remembered that hardwood species, as well as pine, yew and larch, cannot be brushed.
Artificial aging of wood using the dry brush method
This process is also easy to do with your own hands; it is applicable to cabinets, tables, bookcases, chairs and other types home furniture. It consists of several stages, and not all of them are required.
- Creating the effect of many years of use.
At this stage, scratches, gouges, chips and dents are applied to the surface of the furniture. For this you will need carpentry tool and a little imagination. Since the damage caused is irreversible, this stage of wood aging can be skipped.
- Coloring.
For this, two paint options of similar shades are used. First, one is applied, and after drying, the second one is applied.
- Surface treatment with abrasive materials or sanding.
Use fine sandpaper or sand to remove the top layer of paint. This is done unevenly, in some places only up to the first layer, and in others up to the wood. It is important to achieve a natural worn effect, so special attention should be paid to edges and protruding parts. After sanding, shavings and wood dust are removed using a vacuum cleaner.
- Applying paint with a dry brush.
At this stage it is important to choose the right tool for applying paint. A stiff, flat brush works best. The choice of paint should also be approached responsibly. It should be contrasting with previously used shades. For a light base the best option will dark shades brown or burgundy paint. The technology of applying paint to the surface in this method of aging wood is the most complex. The paint is applied with your own hands with an almost dry brush; the strokes should look like a trace of numerous bristles. Crossing strokes is not allowed.
- Rubbing the top layer.
To do this, use a cloth napkin, which is used to lubricate the newly applied strokes.
- Coating the surface with varnish.
Best to use clear varnish, which should be applied in one or two layers.
There are several other ways to force wood to age with your own hands, but they are not as effective and do not always achieve the desired goal.
Beautiful aged furniture can bring an atmosphere of sophistication and harmony to your home. IN natural conditions wood ages under the influence of various natural factors - wind, rain, sun rays etc.
But it is not at all necessary to wait a couple of decades for the purchased set to acquire such a unique look. You can use special technologies aging wood.
Benefits of aged wood
Aged furniture looks elegant and stylish in any interior
Aged wood is beautiful, durable and functional material, from which various pieces of furniture are made: tables, chairs, beds, chests of drawers, etc.
The advantages of aged wood are as follows:
- Surface does not require special processing, if desired, simply coat it with varnish.
- The aging effect allows you to give any piece of furniture an antique look.
- Natural wood grain looks unique and inimitable.
- Furniture made from aged wood will look harmonious in any interior.
- This material is environmentally friendly and anti-allergenic.
- Aged wood is reliable and durable.
- Finally, furniture made from this material will never go out of style.
What types of wood are best to age?
For aging, soft wood or medium-hard material is suitable. It has a brighter texture. Spruce, larch and pine satisfy this requirement. The presented breeds are distinguished by the fact that they have soft fibers. In spring and summer, growth rings form on them most quickly, causing the fibers to become “loose.” Species such as beech and maple are not suitable for aging, since their texture is poorly defined and almost uniform.
Preparation
Before aging wood, its surface must be prepared
Before you start aging wooden furniture with your own hands, you need to carry out high-quality preparation of the surfaces that you plan to treat. To do this, remove all defects and dirt. These may be traces of grease and other stains. If this is not done, outdated contaminants will appear after applying a tinting coating to the wood. Also remove old paint or varnish and remove excess fittings that will interfere with antique finishing.
Methods
When the preparatory stage of the robot is completed, proceed to aging. First, decide on the technology you would like to use to age the furniture. The following options are available:
- Coloring;
- Craquelure;
- Surface brushing;
- Stain treatment;
- Treatment of wood with special chemical compounds (aging technology);
- Application of gilding;
- Achieving a lime effect (liming technology).
Let's look at each of these methods of aging wood in more detail.
Coloring
Wood aged using staining techniques
If you want your wooden furniture to look shabby, you can use the staining technique. Choose a base tone that will show through the top coat of paint.
You can use any color for the base, the main thing is that it is more saturated than the auxiliary one.
You can also use color mixed with white paint and a water base. For the second layer, it is better to use light shades. This combination of colors will create the effect of faded paint. After the paint has dried, sand it with high-grit sandpaper. This will remove excess paint. It is necessary to sand until the effect of worn paint appears. The main layer will appear through it. The final stage of processing is varnishing.
Craquelure
You can paint wood using the craquelure technique. Simply put, create the effect of cracks on wooden furniture. You will need a special craquelure varnish. After applying the base color to it, the varnish will crack. The color of the cracks depends on the chosen base. To add originality, you can use several colors at once. Craquelure – good way Give your wooden furniture an antique look quickly.
Brushing the surface
Wood aged using brushing techniques
Brushing technology is a simple method of aging wooden furniture using a wire brush, fine-grit sandpaper, a chisel and a drill. Before you begin the main process, you need to remove the top layer of wood. Brushing can be combined with surface painting. Use sandpaper and a brush to remove the top layer, and a chisel and drill to create grooves and wormholes. The brushing technique is most often used to age floors and boards. After completing the main stage of work, cover the surface with oil, varnish or stain.
When decorating wooden furniture, it is important not to overdo it, because luxurious furniture can be turned into junk.
Useful information: Brushing is perfect for furniture made from hard woods such as walnut, ash, oak and larch. This technique is contraindicated for maple, cherry, beech and teak.
Stain treatment
Wood aged by stain treatment
This technique is used in combination with others. Coating furniture with paint and varnish material will achieve a stained effect. First you need to treat the surface, and then wash off some of the stain using a damp sponge. It is important to leave the edges, curves and cracks darker than the main part of the surface to emphasize the effect of aging.
If after the first time you were unable to achieve desired result, just sand the surface thoroughly. Some areas can be repainted with a brush dipped in stain. To make the color more saturated, after completing the main stage of work, coat the wood surface with a primer or in the right color. Finally, go over the surface with antique wax using a soft cloth.
Olding technology (treatment with special compounds)
Wood aged using the aging technique
Holding is very interesting technique aging wood. With its help you can recreate the effects of fading, swamp moss, burnout, etc. Special chemical reagents will help achieve amazing results. This technique is only suitable for hard rocks wood (oak, hornbeam, etc.).
This is interesting: If you age soft wood, it will simply become unusable after being treated with strong chemicals.
The final stage will be coating the surface with varnish. It will serve to protect the surface.
Gilding
To effectively age furniture and achieve an antique look, you can use gold platinum. Gilding is one of the most simple procedures, which will not take much time. Just paint the furniture completely in your chosen color and wait for it to dry.
Useful information: Gold paint must be applied in a thin layer. Only then will the furniture look flawless after painting.
Liming
Wood aged using the liming technique
Liming is the process of aging furniture using the lime effect. First, prepare the surface by degreasing it. Treat the wood with a special pigment or paint. Paint and varnish materials will help you achieve any shade and texture. Apply paint along the grain. This way you will emphasize the natural structure of the wood, and add the effect of “clogged dust” to the corners. For best results, it is advisable to apply the lime composition with a brush or gauze pad.
Useful information: When choosing a base color, do not forget that after drying it will look a little lighter.
Video. How to artificially age wood with your own hands at home
Aged wood is one of fashion trends this season's design. Using any of the techniques described above, you can easily give surfaces this effect at home. Artificially aged furniture will look harmonious in the apartment and fill it with comfort.
Wood is beautiful material, from which various interior elements are made. It can be decorated in different ways. One of the popular techniques is wood aging. This is a rather complicated process that requires certain knowledge from the master.
Expert advice will help you figure out how to do this processing yourself. Aging of wood can be carried out in several ways. After considering all the techniques, you can choose the best option.
Why do you need to age wood?
Wood aging is carried out according to various reasons. This technology allows you to give the material the required decorative qualities. Using this finishing you can decorate certain styles interior To save money on the purchase of antique, exquisite and very expensive decorative elements, the technology of artificial aging of natural materials is used.
The choice of such finishing may also be caused by the individual preferences of the home owners. If they want to decorate the interior of their home with just such products, artificial aging of wood will provide a wide field for creativity. Give the material the necessary appearance will be easy using the methods presented below.
There are several approaches that help give wood the necessary decorative qualities. Certain materials and tools are used for them. The master will also need a sufficient amount of free time. Rushing in this case can lead to unsatisfactory results.
Mechanical aging of wood
There are various methods for aging wood. They allow you to give the array a certain appearance. One of the most popular approaches is mechanical aging. It is also called brushing or texturing. Wooden surface processed using a special brush. This allows you to stylize the material, giving it an antique appearance.
Brushing wood involves removing the “pulp” from the structure. This gives relief to the workpiece. It is this process that occurs with wood over a long period of time. She shrinks under the influence various factors environment.
Experienced craftsmen claim that this is one of the most simple ways wood processing. However, it is not always possible to apply this approach in practice. It depends on the characteristics of the wood species. Also, with this method it is possible to obtain a relief surface. In some cases, it is better to decorate the interior with other types of treated wood.
Features of mechanical aging
Brushing wood may not be used for all types of natural material. This method is suitable for processing almost all coniferous species, especially pine. Brushing is also used for larch, walnut, ash and oak. These are the most popular types of wood that are used today in construction and decoration.
Mechanical aging is not carried out for fruit varieties of natural material. Also, this technology is not used for processing beech, maple, teak, row exotic species wood. They are rarely used for finishing works. That is why the mechanical method is so popular.
To carry out the treatment you will need to prepare a special brush. It has a metallic “pile”. The procedure requires a sufficient amount of free time. There is no hurry. Otherwise, you can ruin the appearance of the array. This method can be used to age small pieces. For extensive work, it is necessary to use a grinder, drill or special machine.
Manual brushing
Aging wood with your own hands requires a certain concentration from the master. The material must be dry. Otherwise, it will not be possible to provide the required decorative surface. Bullies will appear. Brush along dry wood along the grain. To make the pile tougher, it can be trimmed.
As a result of such manipulations, it is possible to remove the softest fibers from external structure array. After this, the grinding process is carried out. To do this, use a brush with finer bristles or coarse sandpaper.
After this treatment, the array can be painted. For this, stain is most often used. This allows you to create the desired shade. Other dyes can be used. The appearance of the finish will depend on the correct execution of this stage. This is followed by polishing and varnishing. This allows you to protect natural material from rotting. The surface is coated with varnish several times.
Machine processing
To process a large volume of material, it is necessary to use special equipment. It could be a grinder or electric drill. A special wire attachment is put on the angle grinder. The work must be carried out carefully so as not to damage the material.
A wood aging machine can also be used. Such equipment is most often used in enterprises. When using it, it is possible to achieve high speed and quality of aging of wood. Roughing takes just a few minutes. At this time, small soft fibers are removed.
Wood processing machines are purchased only if it is necessary to process large volumes of materials. The most popular variety is the Festool Rustofix RAS 180 unit. The Makita 974 sanding machine, which includes an abrasive brush, is also used for self-processing wood.
Chemical aging
Artificial aging of wood can be done using other technology. During the processing process, the array is cleaned with coarse sandpaper. Then they begin chemical aging. If you need to treat hardwood, you can use an ammonia solution. You can also use ammonia. It contributes to the darkening of the array.
You can simply clean the surface slightly to highlight the growth rings more clearly. After this, stain and varnish are used. There is another method. One more possible option chemical aging is the use of stain on water based. When the desired shade is obtained, the composition is washed off with a sponge and water. This emphasizes the contours of the rings, making the edges darker.
Another option is patting. This is the most complex and highly decorative processing. In this case, it opens the pores against a more even surface. For this purpose special chemical compositions. They can be purchased in specialized stores.
Heat treatment
Thermal wood aging technology is another way to give wood an antique appearance. The procedure is carried out in several stages. First, firing is carried out over the entire surface of the material. It is also possible to perform processing only on separate areas. This also adds a decorative touch to the finish. It is best to use a gas burner for these purposes. Before starting work, you need to practice on an unnecessary piece of wood.
Firing will remove all soft fibres. After this, the knots and annual rings of the wood appear more clearly. Next comes mechanical processing. Carbon deposits must be removed using a brush with metal bristles. This will also increase the relief of the pattern.
Dry brush method
Another relatively uncomplicated approach is to dry brush aging wood. To carry it out you will need to use your imagination. First, scratches, gouges, and chips are created on the material. You can skip this step, since this processing is irreversible.
First, one layer of paint is applied to the surface, and then a second. Then they should dry well. Next, use fine sandpaper to remove the top layer of paint. This needs to be done unevenly. In some places the wear should extend to the first coat of paint, and in others to the wood. Special attention attention should be paid to protruding parts and edges.
Next, paint is applied using a dry brush. You need to choose a flat, hard brush. The paint should be contrasting. If the base is light, the top layer should be dark. The paint should look like a bristle mark. Strokes cannot be crossed. Next, fresh strokes are lubricated with a cloth. Then apply transparent varnish. It is applied in 2 layers.
Wood restoration
Another type of wood aging is its restoration. This must be done if the appearance of the decor is lost. First you need to clean the surface. Next, the wood is covered with acrylic paint in 2 layers. Then the protruding surfaces are rubbed with paraffin. They are painted in the required shade. Then, after drying, the areas treated with paraffin are cleaned off. Finishing carried out using varnish.
Having considered the features of wood aging, you can create the necessary decor yourself.
