Today's
Sponsors:


CabinetCRUNCHER Cutlist & 3D Cabinet Design Software

Cabinetmakers Association

CADCABINETS.COM

CADCode

Cag Lumber

Cantek America

Carolina Woodworking Consultants

Carter Products

Carvewright

Carving Technologies

Castle

Catskill Timber Industries

Charles G.G. Schmidt Co.

Chicago Dowel Company, Inc.

Clear Lake Lumber

CNC Parts Dept.

1-800-Cabinets.com

2Sand.com

3M Corporation

A O M Spray Equipment

Abrasive Resource

Accu-Router, Inc.

AceCo Precision Wood Tooling

Activa

Air Cleaning Systems

Air Handling Systems

Alan McIlvain Company

Algoma Lumber Co.

All Star Adhesives

Alliance Millsoft

Allied Machinery Inc.

AllRout

Amana Tool

Ameitech South

American Fabric Filter Co.

American Institute of Building Design

American National Woodworking Knife

American Rotary Converters

Andreou Machinery

ANEST IWATA USA, Inc.

Antique Beams and Boards

Antique Building Materials

Anver Corporation

Apollo Sprayers Inc.

Arbor Processing Inc.

Architectural Elements

ArtCam

ATEMAG

Atlantic Machinery Corp.

Auton Motorized Systems

AWFS

B.H. Davis Company

Bailey's Inc.

Bainbridge Manufacturing

Baker Products

Banks Hardwoods

Barn Detail

Barn Door Lumber

BC Wood Specialties Group

BeamsRUS

Beaver Tools

Benz Incorporated

Best Cabinets

BetterVacuumcups.com

Biesse America

Biewer Lumber

Binks

Black Bros. Co.

Blackhawk Machinery

Briquetting Solutions by Sunomi LLC

Brown Wood Products Co.

Business Management Solutions

Byrd Tool

C.R. Onsrud

Cab Parts

Cabinet Door Service Co.

Cabinet Pro




Distressing Techniques to Mimic Driftwood       A woodworker seeks advice for creating the shipwreck look. March 17, 2005

Question
I have been given the challenge of building an oak dining table that looks as though it has been in a shipwreck and water has taken its toll. I build exclusively from barn wood, so I have some weathering already. How can you fake the driftwood look?

Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor M:
Bleach, bleach, bleach. Use the two part, oxalic acid, and clorox. Use them all. Have fun, play around. The more messed up it looks, the better. I did a heavily distressed countertop for someone and used all the bleaches as well as potassium dichromate, wax, shellac, boiled linseed oil, water, Orange Crush, and Pepsi. It looked very authentic.



From the original questioner:
I can see bleach, potassium dichromate, wax, shellac and boiled linseed oil. But Orange Crush and Pepsi?


From contributor S:
One other thing that you see on driftwood is uneven wear between harder wood (growth rings) and softer wood. This gives a ridged appearance to the wood, most easily simulated by light sandblasting.


From the original questioner:
Thanks for the great info. But as I do not have the facilities to use such harsh chemicals, can I get away with pressure washing and sand blasting, then just some bleach to lighten it up? And the Orange Crush and Pepsi trick…


From contributor M:
If you're trying to pull off an authentic distression, you must think outside the box and use methods and products you would not normally associate with woodworking. Driftwood is very grey, so how about putting some grey glaze right on the bare wood? Try to find a way to simulate all the little surface checks that driftwood has, maybe with a v-groove chisel, or skimming some parts against your bandsaw blade.

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: Furniture

  • KnowledgeBase: Furniture: Custom Furniture

  • KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous

  • KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous: Woodworking




    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 © 1996-2009 - 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.
    RR4 Box 265A
    Montrose, PA 18801

    Contact WOODWEB













  •   Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article