Today's
Sponsors:


Wright Timber

Zipbolt

Template Services

Terminus

The Machine Warehouse

Thermwood Corporation

TigerStop

TigerwoodDecking.com

TimberKing

Timesavers Inc.

TMS Machinery Sales

Tooling on the Web

Touch Up Solutions

Tractivity

TradeJobPlacement.com

TradeSoft

Tritec/GANNOmat

Tropical Hardwoods

TSI

UC Coatings Corp.

Unique Building Supples

Unique Machine & Tool

University of Wisconsin

UWMO Auctions

Vacuum Pressing Systems, Inc.

Vacuumpods.com

Valspar

Vectric Ltd.

Veneer Systems Inc.

Vintage Wood Products

VortexTool Co. Inc.

VyTek

W. Moore Profiles, Ltd.

Wagner Electronic Products

WalzCraft Industries

WEIMA America, Inc.

Weinig

Western Dovetail

Williams and Hussey

Wisconsin Knife Works

Wizard Industries

WMMA

Wood Doctor's Rx, LLC

Wood Technology Inc

Wood-Mizer

WoodCabinetDoors.com

WoodenBoat

WoodJobs.com Search Consultants

WoodLINKS

Woodmaster

WoodPlanet Inc.

WoodSprayGuns.com

WOODWEB

Woodworker's Supply/woodworker.com

Woodworker's Directory

Woodworking in America

Woodworking Technology




Chemically Weathering Pine

      Advice on how to give pine that instant touch of gray. August 16, 2009

Question
I am trying to weather some pine for a Wainscot installation and I was hoping someone could help me. I was thinking of using muriatic acid to weather it but I’m not sure how to proceed after that? Can I just wait for it to dry and then use a water-based poly? This is going to be for a restaurant.

Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From Paul Snyder, forum technical advisor:
Are you looking for the grey, weathered look? Will you be applying a protective clear finish over it?



From the original questioner:
I am looking for a grey weathered look. The paneling is #2 pine - lots of knots. It’s for a seafood restaurant so it does need something low maintenance and easy to clean. I was thinking of spraying water-based poly but I’m not sure how it will react with the acid.


From contributor W:
We just did some cypress like that with a gray wiping stain and a dark brown glaze. My guys used a wire wheel to gouge out the summer wood and raise the grain.


From the original questioner:
I already tried to vinegar/steel wool solution and it didn’t give it too much of a grey. It just slightly tinted it. I know pine doesn’t have a lot of tannin, so I did a few samples by misting it with tea. That gave me a brown finish. The color I get with the muriatic acid is exactly what I’m looking for. I’m just not sure if the water-based poly will stick to it long term.


From contributor R:
Other stains that work real well for your purpose are water-based dye stains. Lockwood makes a bunch of colors and they are easy to work with. Thinned down Latex paints are also another medium to contemplate. The same goes for a thinned down oil based paint. I’ve seen some deck paints/fence paints that look quite nice.


From contributor C:
If you like this look and are going ahead with it then neutralize the muriatic/hydrochloric acid before applying water coating! Otherwise you will just react the acid and that will affect the coating. Wash the pine with clear water a couple times (distilled) then make up a batch of boric acid and D water 4 oz to the gallon. Apply, let dry, and again wash the surface with D water let dry sand lightly with 320 or finer grit, then apply your coating.


From contributor G:
Contributor C - did you suggest neutralizing muriatic/HCl with boric acid? How do you neutralize acid with acid? Why not baking soda?


From contributor C:
"Neutralize" was the wrong word. Calcium carbonate (baking soda) would be fine to neutralize. Boric acid helps lift the chlorine from the surface so that the distilled water can wash it away much better and more thoroughly.

Personally, I don't use hydrochloric acid in strengths exceeding 5%. It’s way too harmful to the wood structure (lignin/cellulose) and I never leave it on for more than a minute or so. Yes I'm aware that many people do and in strengths above five.



Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?


Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?
  • KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

  • KnowledgeBase: Finishing

  • KnowledgeBase: Finishing: General Wood Finishing




    Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

    If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to
    review our Forum Guidelines.

    Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

    When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

    Return to beginning of article.



    Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy || Site User Agreement

    Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

    To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

    Copyright © 1996-2012 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
    Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

    The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

    WOODWEB, Inc.
    335 Bedell Road
    Montrose, PA 18801

    Contact WOODWEB













  •   Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article