Morning Show Project by DAZ
Basic Wood Graining Faux Finish
Monday, March 3, 2003

Supplies:

  • Wood Graining tool (Found in Paint Dept. Home Improvement store).
  • Wood stain- choose according to surface and climate to be used in. Read the labels for this information. For indoor projects you can mix a glaze med. to acrylic paints. I used Decoart Americana colors: Milk chocolate and Terra Cotta, and also Decoart Walnut Gel stain.)
  • Drag brush-Bristle brush
  • Painter's tape
  • Sand paper
  • Cloth
  • Varnish brush
  • Prepared surface - prepare your surface according to the materials you are going to use, it will also depend on inside or outside usage, (for ex: primer for metal out door pieces)
  • Varnish -polyurethane (Once again get what is required for your project, there are good water based polyurethane's available if you don't want the fumes from the oil based prod)
Instructions: - Use tape to mask off the areas that are not to be painted. Remember you can use the paint and tape to create a pattern in the surface, too.
 1. Prepare your surface and base coat. Let dry completely. Lightly sand and wipe away dust.
 2. Apply a layer of glaze/stain, you don't want this to be too thick, but you do want it to cover the area you are going to grain. Work in small enough areas that your stain/glaze doesn't dry before you have a chance to grain it.
 3. I recommend that you practice on a piece of board or poster board so that you get the feel of how the graining tool works. You place the tool firmly at the top of the area to be grained and you pull it down, rocking the tool will cause a knot pattern to appear.
Play with the tool for a while and you will understand how that you can control the look of the pattern by the amount of pressure and rocking of the tool. By changing the side of the tool that you use you can also vary the pattern that you achieve.
 4. After you have applied the glaze/stain and created a pattern you like, very lightly drag your bristle brush in a downward motion through the graining. This softens the lines and has a blending effect, once again practice. Let dry.
  5. Apply 2-3 coats of varnish according to label instructions. - This is a technique that can be used for such things as metal doors, stage sets, file cabinets, shelves...just use your imagination and have fun.
DAZ
 
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E-mail: DAZ@DAZigns.com