How to Pickle Finish Wood

Learn how to pickle finish wood.

Wood can be finished in a number of ways, including pickling. Pickling is the art of making wood a dull white color. This is a popular finish, and furniture with this finish can be found in many stores. You can pickle finish wood yourself, even if you have never worked with wood or paints before. There's no need to contact a professional contractor to pickle finish your favorite wood pieces. The whole process can be completed in one day.

Things You'll Need

• 200-grit sandpaper
• White paint
• Water
• 5-gallon bucket
• Paint stirring stick
• Paintbrush
• Clean rag
• Spray-on clear varnish
• Work gloves (optional)

Instructions

1. Sand your wood with 200-grit sandpaper. Use circular motions and be sure to make any rough spots smoother with the sandpaper.

2. Pour 1 quart of paint into a 5-gallon bucket and add 2 cups of water. You can add more paint if you're painting a large item. Be sure to keep the proportion of paint to water the same.

3. Mix the paint and water using a paint stirring stick. You'll want to make sure that the paint and water are mixed together thoroughly.

4. Take a paintbrush and apply the paint. Dip the brush in the 5-gallon bucket and apply a coat of paint to the wood. You can paint in any direction, even if it's not with the grain of the wood.

5. Wait 20 minutes for the paint to begin drying.

6. Take a dry, clean rag and wipe away the excess paint and wait an additional 30 minutes for the paint to finish drying.

7. Repeat Steps 4 through 6.

8. Spray your wood with a coat of clear varnish. Allow the wood to dry for an hour and spray on a second coat of varnish.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear gloves to avoid getting paint on your hands.

• Don't forget to spray on the varnish or the paint will wash away if you clean the wood.

References

• Woodplay: A No-Hassle Technique to Pickle Wood