How to Pickle-Finish Wood Paneling
Pickling, or liming, wood is a method of lightening darker wood, whether it is new or has darkened over time. Originally, the method involved soaking galvanized nails in vinegar for several days so that the galvanizing was dissolved in the vinegar. Then the nails were removed and the vinegar was applied to oak, giving it the dusty appearance of aged wood. Today, however, pickling stains are available at home improvement centers, or it can be easily made using primer and thinner. Primer is used instead of paint to avoid giving the pickled wood a glossy surface. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sponge
- Soap
- Water
- Sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- White primer
- Thinner
- Mixing container
- Mixing paddle
- Brush
- Lint-free rags
- Clear varnish
Instructions
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1
Clean the wood paneling surface with soap and water and rinse well. This step will remove any greasy dirt or grime that may have accumulated on the surface. Any residue will prevent the pickling stain from being absorbed by the wood grain.
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2
Sand the wood to be pickle-finished. Remove the dust from sanding with the tack cloth. Sanding removes any sealer that may have been applied. If the sealer is not removed, the pickling stain will not sink into the wood grain.
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3
Dilute the primer with thinner. Pour the primer into the mixing container and dilute about 25 percent with thinner. Stir well. This is your pickling stain.
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4
Brush the pickling stain onto a section of the wood paneling in the direction of the wood grain. Do not put too much stain on the brush and do not brush too firmly. The idea is to only apply whitish highlights to the grain, not to paint the surface.
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5
Wipe the pickling stain off with a dry, lint-free rag, again following the wood grain. This step should leave the wood grain showing a washed-out white.
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6
Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the rest of the wood paneling. Apply the pickling stain in small sections so that it does not have a chance to dry before you wipe it with the rags. Change rags often so that you are using a dry, clean one on each section. You want to remove the stain with the rag, not re-apply it.
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7
Allow the wood paneling to dry overnight.
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8
Varnish the dry, pickled wood paneling to seal it and preserve the new look.
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Tips & Warnings
Always test a small, inconspicuous area of the paneling before pickling the entire wall. This will show you how your paneling will take the stain.
The type of thinner you use will depend on what type of primer you are using. Latex primer can be diluted with plain water, while oil-based primer should be diluted with paint thinner or turpentine. Read the primer label carefully and use the appropriate thinner.
Tint the pickling stain by adding universal tinting colors. These are available at home improvement centers or paint stores. Using tinted pickling stain will result in pastel color highlight to the wood paneling.
Use all primer and thinner in a well-ventilated area so that any harmful fumes dissipate.
References
- Photo Credit old wood - texture, background image by Ana de Sousa from Fotolia.com
