How to Crackle Paint Furniture

Do you love that antique, weathered look of crackle paint furniture? The warm, 'worn' look of one color of paint showing through the cracks of the top layer of another makes one think of salt sprayed beach houses, grandma's creaky kitchen, and sitting on an old wooden porch on a lazy summer afternoon sipping home brewed sweet iced tea from a mason jar. If you want to give YOUR boring or dated furniture a 'face lift' with a crackle paint finish it's easier than you might think! Read on to learn the simple steps of refurbishing furniture with crackle paint.

Things You'll Need

• 2 shades of latex based interior house paint
• large quantities of Elmers glue
• clear coat finish that is safe for painted surfaces
• sandpaper
• furniture to refinish
• soft 1 inch paint brushes
• water for clean up

Instructions

1. 

   Having solid wood built furniture with large flat surfaces (like table tops, cabinet doors, large head or foot boards, dressers, or wide picture frames) tend to work best if one wishes to crackle paint or crackle faux finish furniture. To begin; you must first strip away any wood stain (or prime over wood stained furniture with 2 coats of quality primer and let set for 24 hours before attempting to begin your crackle finishing process)So, strip away flaky paint, excess stain buildup or uneven edges and sand smooth with sand paper. Dust with a damp cloth to remove sanding dust; then apply your 2 coats of quality primer and let dry for 24 hours.

2. 

   After sanding surfaces to a smooth finish; apply two coats of primer and allow to dry for a full 24 hours. Once primer has dried completely; apply your base coat of latex paint for your crackle finish. NOTE: The base coat will be what shows through the cracks when your top coat 'crackles'. Usually the base coat is several shades darker or all together different than the top coat (like the bed shown in the photos in the next step; the black was painted FIRST; then the white top coat was applied so that the black shows through the cracks) Paint 2 coats of your base coat and allow to dry for 24 hours.

3. 

   Once your base coat for your crackle paint finish has dried completely; apply either a layer of specialty 'crackle finishing solution' you can buy at most home improvement stores (follow package directions) or apply a semi thick layer of regular Elmers school glue. Let the glue dry nearly all the way (until it is barely tacky) and then apply one coat of your chosen color of top coat paint mixed with elmer's school glue. (Mix paint to glue 2 to 1--2 cups of paint to 1 cup of glue). As the glue dries; it constricts and will cause the elasticity of the paint to 'pull' slightly, exposing the darker colored paint of the base coat to show through. The effect is the 'crackle paint finish'. Once the topcoat of paint has dried completely; usually 48 hours; you can apply a clear finish that is safe for painted surfaces to seal and protect your faux finish and crackle paint.

4. 

   If you found the directions in this article on how to crackle paint finish furniture helpful in any way; then please don't forget to post your comments for it before you leave this page! Thanks so much for reading and rating my work here on ehow!

Tips & Warnings

• always work with paint in a well ventilated area