How To Grain Finish Wood

Also known as faux wood graining ("faux bois" in French), graining finish wood is a popular type of contemporary art. Individuals who could not afford real wood first used it in the early 19th century. So what they did is they imitated natural wood through "graining."  The advantage of this technique is its ability to create different kinds of wood (even if they are already extinct) or repair damaged ones at any given place and time inexpensively. The materials used for this process are relatively cheap and easy to acquire. If done correctly, you can produce something that looks high-priced, unique and beautiful to the naked eye. The beauty of this method is that you can recycle any kind of wood around the house just by using mundane tools thus making it friendly to the environment. This modern technique can definitely give your home a rustic feel to it. However, there are specific ways that you need to do in order to get this job done right. Read on to learn more about how to grain finish wood.

1. Prepare the materials. The first thing that you need to do is to start getting all the tools needed for wood graining. You will need paint brushes (flat), rags, turpentine, vinegar (white), awl and sandpaper. Prepare a place where you can do this project without being disturbed (preferably outside or at the garage). Put all the materials in one place.
2. Smoothen it all the way. Make sure that the surface is completely smooth by vigorously scrubbing it off with sandpaper. It is very important that the surface is completely leveled. Wipe all the excess dust by using a damp cloth.
3. The base coat. As soon as it is dry and clean, apply a thin base coat. Use a flat paint brush and put some mustard yellow or yellow-orange colored paint. Let it dry.
4. Glaze it like a pro! Create a glaze mixture by combining six parts of raw sienna (you can use any kind of watercolor paint) and one part of vinegar. Mix it well until the viscosity is smooth and thick. Again, using a wide flat brush, apply the glaze over the dried base coat.
5. Style it up. While the glaze is still wet, start poking it with an awl. Wipe it off with a clean rag every once in a while to avoid the glaze from building up. This will also make sure that the surface is leveled and flat. You can use your fingers to create an additional effect as well. Just slightly dab it diagonally across the surface. Finally, apply a thin coat of glaze. Swirl it around with a flat brush. Let it dry.
6. Finish it. Apply one coating of turpentine to seal the design. Let it dry and apply a finishing coating.

Just follow these easy steps to effectively produce a perfect grain finish to your wood. You might not get the results that you have in mind the first time you do this especially if you are new to carpentry. However, everything will be easier with regular practice. It is highly advisable that you try doing this first on a little piece of wood until you get the hang of it. This will also give you an opportunity to try different things to create different effects in a short span of time. This trial and error process can make you more efficient as you venture in to bigger objects. Good luck!