Transfer of Wood Grain Finishes

Create different wood grain finishes and wood stain colors.

The color tone for a particular type of wood is generally chosen prior to purchasing a wood finish. Recycling old pieces of wood by stripping and sanding allows the artist or woodworker to apply different finishes. The woodworker can create wood grains as well as enhance the natural grain of the wood with stain color tones. For instance, the natural tones of woods like cherry, walnut and mahogany, referred to as dark woods with a reddish base, are enhanced by applying slightly deeper toned stain colors. Different wood grain textures are created with glazes and color stains are developed by mixing specific oil stains.

Things You'll Need

• Paint remover
• Old rags
• Medium-grade or coarse steel wool
• Protective gloves, eyewear and mask
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Brush applicator
• Acrylic paint (mustard color)
• Watercolor paint (raw sienna)
• White vinegar
• Old fork (optional)
• Turpentine or thinner
• Wood stain color (your choice)
• Oil stain (walnut, red mahogany and oak)
• Wooden craft palette
• Old newspapers

Instructions

Making Wood Grain Finishes

1. Strip the wood of previous treatments such as paint by using the appropriate remover. For instance, remove old layers of paint from wood with paint remover, old rags and a piece of medium-grade or coarse steel wool. Read your brand's application instructions. Wear protective gloves, eyewear and mask. It is also important to work in a well-ventilated area. Make sure the paint remover is dislodged from the crevices or cracks in the wood. Skip this step if you are working with a piece of new wood from a home improvement or lumber store.

2. Sand the pieces of wood with fine-grit sandpaper. It is important to sand with the natural grain of the wood. This avoids cross-grain scratches, which show up when the stain is applied. Vacuum your work area to avoid sawdust or debris to mix into the stain.

3. Cover your work table with old newspapers to avoid stain damaging the surface. Brush one coat of mustard-colored acrylic paint along the natural grain of the wood. This is referred to as the base coat. Let dry your brand's recommended time.

4. Mix 6 parts raw sienna watercolor paint with 1 part white vinegar. Continue to mix until the consistency is thick and runs smooth. This is referred to as glaze. Keep in mind that you can mix different acrylic paint colors with the watercolor mixture to achieve different glaze color tones.

5. Brush the glaze along the natural grain of the wood as in Step 3 and let dry. As an alternative, create different faux textures while the glaze is wet. For instance, recycle an old fork and run it through the wet glaze in the direction of the wood's natural grain to create an indented faux wood grain texture.

Enhancing Wood Grain with Stain Finishes

1. Repeat Section 1, Steps 1 and 2.

2. Read the label and check the wood stain type. For instance, oil stains are different from sealer or varnish stains. Oil stains penetrate the wood. If the color is too dark after the excess is wiped away, apply turpentine or thinner to an old rag and wipe the stain out for a lighter tone. Oil stain colors can also be mixed to get your desired tone finish. Sealer stains sink into the wood after the excess is wiped away and cannot be bleached out if you change your mind. The excess of varnish stains are not wiped away. This stain type sits on top of the wood, resembling a film-like protective coating as it dries.

3. Cover your work table with old newspapers to avoid stain damaging the surface. Mix oil stains to create a different color tone. For instance, to create a brown-toned cherry-colored stain, mix 2/3 cup of walnut oil stain, 1/3 cup of red mahogany oil stain and add 2 tsp. of oak oil stain. Mix with a wooden craft palette until the stain color tone is even. Skip this step if you are not creating a specific color tone.

4. Apply the first coat of stain onto the wood with a brush or old rag. Go along the natural grain of the wood. Keep in mind certain woods such as pine absorb heavier amounts of stain at the ends of the wood piece. The wood appears darker at the ends, referred to as an end-grain. Make sure the brush or rag is not saturated with stain when approaching the ends during application.

5. Wipe away excess stain with the old rags to see the actual tone. Continue to repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the desired stain tone appears. Several coats are often needed to achieve a darkened stain color. Let dry your brand's recommended time, which is generally overnight, prior to adding another surface finish.

References

• "Staining and Finishing Unfinished Furniture and Other Naked Woods"; George Grotz; 1968
• "Turning Wood with Richard Raffan: Updated and Expanded Third Edition"; Richard Raffan; 2008
• "101 Quick & Easy Woodworking Projects"; Charles R. Self; 1992