Artificially aged wood is a unique finishing material. Practical, inexpensive, fully retaining its strength characteristics, but at the same time possessing original beauty and the charm of antiquity. The scope of such a tree is wide: interior design, furniture manufacturing, facade decoration, arbors, stairs, even fences are made from it. The most important thing is that wood processing does not require special knowledge or experience, and anyone can handle it. Let us consider in more detail how to age a tree on your own, and what is needed for this.
There are three effective ways to age wood - mechanical, chemical and thermal. Depending on the chosen method, the final result has certain differences.
The mechanical method includes two types of processing - brushing and patination. Both types can be used together or separately, depending on the material and the desired result:
- brushing - the surface is treated with a metal brush to remove soft fibers and expose annual rings. As a result of such processing, the upper layer acquires a pronounced relief, which is further emphasized by the application of glazing compositions. This method is the most time-consuming and is used mainly for hardwoods - pine, larch, spruce, oak, walnut;
- patination - surface treatment with coloring compositions, followed by polishing. It is used for soft woods, as well as wood with a slightly pronounced texture - maple, cherry, beech and others. Wood wax and stain can be used along with the paint to give a brighter pattern.
The chemical method consists in treating the top layer of the tree with various compounds that change the color of the fibers. Ammonia and products containing alkali, for example, liquid for cleaning stoves or sewers, are suitable for this. This method can only be used for rocks containing tannins, that is, hardwoods. Chemical treatment of coniferous wood will not give the desired effect.
The thermal method is the firing of wood with a gas burner or blowtorch. The type of tree does not matter. They do not burn much, if only the texture of the fibers appears more clearly, and then the carbon deposits are removed with a metal brush. Next, cover the surface with a stain or varnish to give the wood a more decorative look. In general, the process is not difficult, but requires caution and safety.
brushing technology
Tools and materials for processing
In the process of work you will need:
- hand planer;
- chisel or small hatchet;
- steel brush;
- angle grinder with brush attachments;
- sandpaper, large and small;
- paint brushes;
- dense sponge;
- tinting antiseptic for wood (for example, "Pinotex");
- white azure;
- brush with soft bristles.
Prices for cordless drill/driver
Cordless Drill
Rough cleaning should be done with a steel bristle bristle, but nylon and copper bristles are better for finishing. There is a special nozzle called "Piranha". It is a polymer-abrasive brush that can effectively remove soft fibers from the surface and leave hard ones. The grinder can be replaced with a drill, such nozzles are also produced for it. In extreme cases, you can get by with a hand tool, but this is long and tedious.
Piranha brush
The wood should be dense, strong, not damp. Resinous boards should also not be taken, as the resin makes processing difficult. The presence of knots is welcome, as they make the pattern more pronounced and decorative. In the absence of experience in such work, take a small piece of unplaned board or timber, up to half a meter long.
In the process of such work, a lot of fine dust is always formed, so it is best to do it in the fresh air. If the weather does not allow, take care of the possibility of airing the room and be sure to prepare a protective mask or at least goggles.
Step 1. The workpiece is laid on a flat surface and processed with a manual planer. It is better not to use an electric tool, as it leaves small transverse stripes, which reduces the naturalness of the pattern.
Step 2 With the help of a chisel or a corner of an ax over the entire surface, you need to make chaotic chips, shallow and shapeless, to give the material a rougher look.
Step 3 Now with a metal brush you need to tear off the soft fibers. The brush should be driven only along the fibers, pressing the tool against the board with force.
Advice. To reduce dust generation, it is recommended to lightly dampen the surface of the workpiece with water. But before grinding and impregnation, the tree must be dried.
Step 4 When the relief begins to appear, the manual brush is replaced with a grinder with a metal brush, and work continues. The nozzle should be located perpendicular to the surface to be treated, movements should be performed strictly along the fibers. If you do not need too rough relief, take a Piranha brush or a nylon bristle brush right away and do not press hard on the tool during work. Wormholes and knots on the tree go around the perimeter to emphasize the contours.
Step 5 With a soft brush sweep the resulting dust, and then proceed to grinding. You can sand the tree by hand or with a grinder, the main thing is to remove protruding fibers and sharp protrusions. In conclusion, the workpiece is once again cleaned of dust.
Step 6 Now the material needs to be given color. To do this, the surface is first coated with a Pinotex primer, which is applied with a brush along the fibers. You can use both stain and dark azure - any coating with color that will not hide the texture.
Step 7 After applying the composition to the workpiece, give it a few minutes to soak, and then gently wipe the top layer with a sponge. It is not necessary to rub strongly, it is enough to gently rub 2-3 times along the fibers. After that, all the recesses will remain darker than the protruding edges, and the relief will appear more clearly.
A distinctive feature of good quality stains is that they show the texture of wood.
Then there are two options: leave this color and cover the wood with a transparent varnish or add another layer and give the material the look of an old bleached wood. The second option is suitable for processing elements in the Provence style. To do this, wait until the impregnation is completely dry, and apply white azure with a brush in a very thin layer. After it dries, the wood is lightly sanded with the finest sandpaper, cleaned of dust and covered with a colorless varnish.
This method is also used: after brushing, the workpiece is covered with a dense layer of white glaze, dried and brushed again with a metal brush, but now not so intensively. Finally, a layer of clear varnish is applied.
Applying white paint
To make a dark tree, and not bleached, instead of white azure, the surface is thickly covered with stain or Pinotex, and the layer is made uneven. Next, use a brush or sandpaper, depending on what kind of finish you want to get. Sanding gives light blurry scuffs, and after the brush, rough grooves remain and the tree looks more brutal.
Prices for various types of stains
How to make patination
Primary processing is carried out according to the technology described above: soft fibers are removed, a relief is given and the surface is polished. Only after that, the workpiece can be patinated.
Step 1. Take any wood primer and carefully apply it with a brush to the wood. The primer should penetrate well into all grooves and recesses. Allow the workpiece to dry.
Step 2 Apply the first coat of paint. Acrylic paint is best suited, because it is not prone to peeling, fits well on the surface, and does not leave streaks.
The choice of color depends only on your preferences, you can take any shades, the main thing is that they are saturated and contrast with the patina shade. The paint is applied with a brush, evenly distributing the composition in a thin layer. The base coat must dry completely, so they take a break from work for a day.
Step 3 Sand the workpiece with fine sandpaper. Wipe the dust and apply a layer of patina with a brush. Patina for wood is best chosen in the color of bronze or gold, with a metallic tint. Here it is not necessary to evenly distribute the paint, on the contrary, the difference in coating density will only emphasize the effect of aging.
Step 4 When the patina begins to set, you need to take a dry rag and wipe certain areas. After the paint has dried, the wood is covered with a transparent varnish.
Types of patina for wood
| Composition type | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Water-soluble composition, characterized by slow drying, odorless and a wide variety of shades. Easy to apply and blend, perfectly emphasizes the surface relief |
| Very thick composition with a pearly sheen. It is applied to protruding areas with a dry brush, in recesses - with a sponge. Easily rubbed and gives the maximum effect of antiquity |
| The composition is dark brown, most often used for shading relief. Easy to apply with a brush, does not spread, rubs well with a soft cloth |
| It has a paste-like consistency, applied with a dry brush or thick cloth. It is considered the best option for patination of wood |
Thermal aging
First of all, take care of safety precautions. When firing wood, there should be no flammable objects and liquids nearby, and it is better to carry out such work in general in the fresh air. Be sure to check the condition of the burner or blowtorch.
Prices for various types of gas burners and blowtorches
Gas burners and blowtorches
Step 1. The workpiece is placed on a non-combustible surface or installed vertically, after which they proceed to firing with a burner. The material is treated as evenly as possible, the top layer should be charred by about 2-3 mm in thickness.
Step 2 After cooling, the charred soot is removed manually with a brush or with a grinder. The intensity and duration of this treatment depends on the desired texture.
Step 3. Having formed the desired relief, they take a grinding nozzle and process the workpiece again. Here it is important not to overdo it and not remove the excess, otherwise the aging effect will be insignificant.
Step 4 Since the color of the wood has changed during firing, dark and light areas have appeared, there is no need for painting. Now it remains only to cover the material with a colorless varnish or protective impregnation.
The use of chemically aggressive substances requires special care and accuracy in work. Be sure to use protective gloves, and the room should be well ventilated. The workpiece is pre-treated with coarse sandpaper and wiped from dust. Then alkaline products or ammonia are applied with a brush and left for several hours. To slow down drying, you can cover everything with a film on top. Under the influence of ammonia and alkalis, the surface acquires a gray tint, characteristic of old weathered wood.
When the color of the workpiece has completely changed, it is rinsed with water, and then wiped with vinegar solution (a tablespoon in a glass of water) to remove the remaining alkali. If ammonia was used, the vinegar solution is not needed. After drying, the wood is brushed, sanded and a protective coating is applied. It is not necessary to paint such material, because then the meaning in chemical processing disappears, and it is easier to do everything mechanically.
Outdoor use of aged wood
Such a decorative material is great for decorating facades in a rustic style. First of all, this is the German half-timbered style: the original wall decoration involves the use of wooden beams of a rough texture, giving the building a characteristic look.
Country-style decoration also allows the use of aged wood: this is the sheathing itself, and shutters, and front doors, as well as decorative elements.
Railings, steps, support pillars at the porch - all this can also be made using the described wood processing methods. By practicing on small pieces, you can effortlessly cope with any surface. Of course, large-volume elements, such as cladding for a house, are not so easy to process manually, but there are special machines for sale for this. The most important thing is to have a desire, and then everything will definitely work out.
Video - How to age a tree
Video - Wood patination
Video - Wood aging by firing
Video - Chemical way of aging wood
How to age a tree at home? This wood finishing technique is popular among gardeners, designers and self-taught craftsmen. With its help, you can make a unique interior and exterior design.
This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.
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How to age a tree: the main points
To add age to a tree with your own hands, you need to be able to work with natural materials and stock up on tools. Of the tools you need to have:
- metal brush;
- electric or manual planer;
- sandpaper;
- grinder.
In addition to the listed tools, you must also have dust protection equipment. It can be a respirator or goggles. Since there will be a lot of dust in the process of creating crafts, you should think about ventilation methods. It is advisable to carry out this work outdoors. If this is not possible, then the tree is recommended to be slightly moistened before abrasive processing. But before opening with varnish, it must be dried. Also, do not forget that it is absolutely impossible to sweep the dust formed from the surface with your hands in order to prevent the appearance of splinters. Hands also should not touch the surface in order to feel its relief. This can be done only after the complete removal of dust.
In the interior, this technology is used very often. It successfully combines with stone, metal and ceramics. Without it, Provence interior style is unthinkable. But then special painting of the boards is required.
Aged wood is used inside the house for steps, benches, as well as to create a designer lamp or chest of drawers. It can be used to make furniture, such as a table or chairs. It also makes unique boxes. There are many ways to use an old tree in the interior, the choice depends on the design style and aesthetic tastes of the owner.
An artificially aged tree should resemble as much as possible a natural one, which has been influenced by sunlight, wind, rain and other natural phenomena. Therefore, only hand tools and manual processing of the material should be used here, if possible. It is also important to choose the right varnishes and paints for the exterior coating. Today there is a huge range of those, so it is important to make the right choice depending on the desired result.
In order to achieve the effect of antiquity at home, it is first recommended to practice on a piece of wood. This will allow you to evaluate the result and avoid mistakes. For training, you need to take the type of wood from which the entire structure will be made in the future.
To make a beautiful and durable wooden structure with the effect of antiquity, it is important to choose the right type of wood. Coniferous trees are not suitable for this idea, as they contain resin, which interferes with the creation of the effect. It is also worth abandoning birch, cherry, maple, pear, juniper. It is better to pay attention to ash, larch, oak, wenge, merbau, dussia.
In order to properly make the effect of aging wood, you need to take old boards. They are the easiest to machine and absorb paints and varnishes well. It is desirable that they have knots. This will add even more beauty to the craft. If there are no such boards in the house, then you can ask your neighbors or acquaintances. Surely someone stocked these, but did not find a use for them. You can often get them for free. The young forest does not have many fibers, therefore it is difficult to process, it is better to leave it until the right time.
A master class on creating an aged tree can be easily found on the net. There are many videos and detailed descriptions of the process. So don't worry if you have no experience with natural materials at all. In just a few hours of studying the information, you can understand the essence of finishing and choose the easiest and most beautiful way for yourself.
There are many ways to create the effect of aging. Among them, there are the simplest ones, which take several hours, as well as more difficult ones, the production of which takes several days. Everyone chooses for himself, based on his stock of tools and the expected result. There are ready-made boards with the effect of antiquity on sale, but the process of creating them at home is much more exciting and pleasing.
How to age a tree with paint?
Painting is a mandatory part of all ways to create an aged tree. If paint is not used, then the outer layer is covered with a colorless or colored varnish. This is necessary to protect the outer layer and give a beautiful texture. Translucent glaze "Belinka" - the basis on which you can apply other layers of paint. It covers the surface after machining. Before coating with varnish or white paint, the surface must be treated with a soft brush to give relief. A colorless varnish is applied to a slightly dried paint. Thus, wood with a slight effect of antiquity is obtained. It comes out light in color and without gross damage.
If you like aged aggressive effect, then you can not do without multi-layer painting. Also here you should expose the boards to all kinds of damage: beat with iron rods, scrape, make holes with an awl. If you want to completely achieve naturalness, then you can make wormholes, but this option is suitable for the most daring and creative.
Tree, painted several times, acquires a deep color. Pinotex is often used for priming; it unevenly covers the surface. It also serves to create a thick color to the lowest layers of the board. After it dries, it is necessary to make minor damage to the surface and proceed to further processing.
Usage white paint is welcome in some cases. It will help create crafts in the spirit of Provence and give a beautiful shade. Since it can give a glossy sheen, it is recommended to dilute it with white spirit.
How to age a tree in Provence style?
To create an interior in Provence style, you can not do without old white boards. They have a very different purpose: they are used for shutters, for furniture or steps. After the main coating with a primer, the surface is covered with white paint. It does not have to be applied in an even layer. After drying, you need to walk with a brush to further achieve the effect of antiquity.
Loft involves the use of gray aged boards that resemble concrete as much as possible. They can be made gray using acrylic paints of the desired shade.
How to age a tree with your own hands in white?
If you need to paint the board gray, then you can do without paints. The chemical method of aging involves the use of alkaline agents or ammonia. When using this method, you need to take care of your safety: wear a mask and gloves. After treatment with alkali, the future product can be covered with a film to reduce the drying rate. When the craft dries, traces of alkali should be removed: for this, it must be rinsed with vinegar and brushed. The last stage is the coating with a colorless varnish.
How to age a tree using decoupage technique?
To make cracks on a product using decoupage technique, the surface is processed step by step with special paints. For the first layer, you need to take paint that will shine through small cracks. Next, you need to apply craquelure varnish on the dried first layer. It should be applied in a thick layer. After waiting for almost complete drying or speeding it up with a hairdryer, you need to apply the top layer with confident strokes. For small cracks, it is recommended to dilute acrylic paints. Craquelure on the craft can be considered ready after the paint has dried (30-40 minutes).
How to quickly age a tree?
The fastest way is the heat treatment of wood and subsequent varnishing. A blowtorch or burner will help you achieve the desired effect very quickly. The top layer of burnt must be removed to facilitate staining.
How to age a tree with a patina?
Aging wood with ammonia is a cheap way to get a patina effect. You can also use special paints with gold, bronze or silver particles to refine the wood. You can also achieve a patina with a stain. It is used for full or partial patching. The stain will protect the wood from moisture, fungus and mold. Of the minuses of its use, only one can be distinguished - the result is only a dark color.
aged wood effect
Imitation of sun-damaged and rain-damaged wood is popular for decorating country houses and modern apartments. You can’t do without such wood when creating certain styles in the interior. It is successfully used for the design of facades.
Learn how to age a tree with your own hands in a loft style at home with your own hands and you can use it anywhere in production: for a wooden kitchen, Provence furniture, tables, etc. It turns out a wonderful color that will decorate the decor of any home! The use of modern wood in the design is, perhaps, a win-win option.
This is an incredibly attractive, breathable, pleasant to the touch natural material. It favorably affects the formation of the microclimate in the home, has bactericidal properties, and is useful for human energy. In any room, wooden ceiling beams, individual decorative elements will look great.
This wonderful material lends itself perfectly to a variety of types of processing.: It can be left natural, dyed, aged, and more.
There is no specific, unambiguous answer to this question.
This procedure is carried out for various purposes, most often it is:
How to make a tree old: brushing
There are many different ways to process a tree to get the desired result. Brushing, or texturing, is one of the most widely used.
The word brush is of English origin and means a brush. From him came the name of the technique, which consists in using the mentioned object to remove soft pliable fibers of the material. Very similar processes occur as a result of natural aging, but in this case they take a fairly large amount of time. This method is considered the closest to the natural natural changes that occur with the material.
With it, the wood acquires a distinct woody texture.
What tree can be aged: breeds
It is quite possible to give the surface of a wooden material an aged look with the help of brushing on your own, at home. The problem is that not every type of wood is suitable for such processing.
Maple, cherry, beech, pear, certain varieties of exotic plants are not amenable to this method of aging.
It is not suitable for products and surfaces made of MDF. What to do if there is no suitable material available? We'll have to use a different method, chemical. The wood of coniferous trees is best processed mechanically.
Brushing is a rather laborious procedure. The main tool for its implementation is an elastic and durable metal brush. It will not work to quickly change the appearance of the tree with its help, so you can speed up the process.
To do this, you need a grinder or a drill with a special brush made of hard wire.
It should be noted that the use of electromechanical tools for woodworking can be very unsafe. The fact is that quite strong vibrations occur during the event, which can cause separation and sharp flying away not only of wooden chips, but also of metal elements.
Therefore, it is important not only to know how to age a tree, but also to be able to do it safely, without risking your own health. All activities are carried out in a special protective suit, eyes must be covered with camouflage goggles or a face shield. The airways are closed with a special respirator.
Chemical treatment during aging
Is it possible to age a tree by hand without the use of special devices and tools? Coarse-grained sandpaper is required, with which the surface is cleaned. Ammonia (ammonia solution) is applied to the prepared material, from which the tree becomes noticeably darker.
Thanks to this treatment, the wood texture becomes more distinct, while the noble darkening gives the material a touch of exquisite antiquity.
Such processing can be superficial, fairly light in nature.. In this case, a non-coarse polymer brush is used. If the tree is subjected to deep processing, then even the annual rings of wood become noticeable.
Chemical method The main thing is not to overdo it when performing this operation. Otherwise, the result of the effort expended will not be an elegant textured surface, but a loose, indefinite wood.
Regardless of the chosen processing method, after a rough initial cleaning, the wooden blank must be restored to its original aesthetics. Irregularities and burrs are carefully removed from the surface of the object, then it is removed with a special abrasive brush. Then the material is additionally lightened and glossed with fine sandpaper.
Aged wood effect: patina
Mechanical processing alone is not enough to obtain the desired effect of aged wood. What to do with the material next? You can cover the product with one of the types of varnish. The material looks very interesting after a special treatment - patination. It allows you to make the surface of the material even more embossed. Patina is a peculiar, unique gloss acquired by the material over time.
Applying patina: the process His own recreation requires considerable effort, and is carried out in several separate stages. What is the patination process?
This is the application of special stains and compositions to the treated surface. In each case, they are selected individually, in accordance with the desired shade and color of the product.
The compositions should be applied in such a way that they find themselves in the pores of the wood, which open during mechanical processing.
The essence of this method is to make the deep pores of the material appear contrasting and dark against the general background, which is lighter. To carry out this procedure yourself, you need to choose a paint that matches the color. She completely stains the prepared surface, and, without waiting for complete drying, remove part of the top layer with a cloth or sponge. Such wood looks noble and looks like an old one.
But patination is not the only way to get the same or similar result. It is absolutely wonderful to age products with the help of special enamels. This method will allow you to get a real work of art, outwardly not much different from genuine antiques.
A layer of enamel of a certain color is applied to the surface. When it dries, it will be the turn for the next staining. For secondary application, a composition of a different shade, and a more liquid consistency, will be required.
When the treated rock is completely dry, its surface is easily processed with sandpaper. In some places, the initial layer appears, forming elegant scuffs.
Toning and varnishing
The patination process must be completed with tinting. To carry it out, you will need special formulations that contain resins and natural ones. As a finish, a coating of treated wood with a double or triple layer of varnish is used. After drying, the surface is treated with a soft cloth to give a special shine.
Such varnishing fixes all previous manipulations, gives the product a finished, finished look.
And although the process is quite complicated and time-consuming, anyone can master the art of working with wood.
The main thing here is to carefully study the technology, understand the sequence of stages, and strictly follow the instructions.
Secrets of high-quality brushing: how to age a tree
How to correctly carry out the brushing process so that the result is pleasing to the eye? You need to know some of the nuances of the process.
Aged wood: use in the interior
Wood treated in a special way can not be found in every dwelling. The fact is that it is not enough just to age the wood.
The ability to correctly use it for interior design is of great importance. But the use of the described method of brushing allows you to make completely unique products, in fact exclusive.
These can be individual pieces of furniture, or entire sets and sets.
Chests of drawers, candlesticks, bookshelves, antique cupboards, frames for mirrors and paintings, country furniture and kitchen sets look especially interesting. This method of processing wood is great for the manufacture of individual doors and partitions.
The method of brushing wood is great for giving special effect to flooring and parquet boards. Often, such material is used for the author's decoration of the walls of saunas or home baths, billiard rooms, retro cafes, bars and non-standard rooms.
Antique wood products with a faded surface, textured notches and openwork grooves left by carpenter bugs are distinguished by special luxury and charm. Of course, the natural aging process of wood takes many years. However, if desired, the tree can be aged artificially. There are several techniques by which you can give your new wooden things a spectacular antique look.
Chemical treatment is ideal for artificially aging hardwood:- To begin with, wooden blanks are thoroughly cleaned of stains and dirt.
- To make the natural pattern of wood more textured and voluminous, the boards are alternately treated with coarse and fine-grained sandpaper.
- Next, the polished wood is wiped with a rag or sponge soaked in ammonia or other alkaline solution. As a result of such simple processing, the workpieces acquire a noble darkening.
- Finishing varnishing with a transparent glaze will give the prepared wooden products a rich iridescent gloss.
- Cleaned from stains and dust, wooden parts are fired with a blowtorch or gas burner until a slight soot appears.
- Next, the charred wood is manually processed with a metal / wire brush, after which it is cleaned with a fine emery cloth.
- To emphasize the beauty and texture of wood, products are covered with a stain of a neutral shade. To apply the solution, a soft, clean sponge is used, cavities and other hard-to-reach areas are painted over with a brush.
- The final stage of processing blanks is the application of decorative antique wax. The paste is rubbed into the wood in a circular motion using a woolen cloth.
- preparation of wood and rough selection of soft fibers;
- grinding and polishing workpieces;
- toning and varnishing of prepared parts.
An important nuance! For mechanical processing, it is recommended to use softwood with a pronounced patterned texture - pine, spruce, fir, larch, linden, ash or walnut.
- Before starting work, be sure to put on protective equipment: a high-quality respirator, plastic goggles and thick gloves will protect you from wood dust and flying particles of metal bristles.
- It is desirable to organize the workplace in such a way that the light rays are directed perpendicular to the wood fibers.
- In the process of work, avoid strong pressure on the surface to be treated, the pressure on the tool should be moderate.
- Before direct brushing, new brush heads must be “run in”, otherwise the wooden blanks will be covered with a small fleecy “terry cloth”.
- The movements of the brush should be directed along the hard wood grains; cross-cutting can spoil the natural beauty of growth rings.
On a note! For greater naturalness, the product can be decorated with "wormholes". To do this, with the help of a blunt core or an awl, shallow holes are randomly punched in the wood.
At the third stage of brushing, the wood is tinted. To give the blanks a natural, aged look, they are painted with stain or acrylic paint in dark shades. First, the selected paint and varnish is abundantly applied to the wooden surface, then its excess is immediately removed with a rag or rubber spatula. Thanks to this tinting technique, potholes and depressions acquire a rich dark hue, while the protrusions, the so-called "ridges", remain lighter. After complete drying, the products are coated with a transparent protective impregnation or acrylic varnish.To simulate the aging of wood, you will have to stock up on remarkable patience. Such work does not tolerate fuss and haste. However, the result is worth it - an artificially aged tree looks incomparably beautiful, spectacular and soundly.
Good day, dear readers and subscribers, Andrey Noak welcomes you! We continue to publish in the video section the most interesting collections of videos from both our and foreign experts on wood processing. Today I will tell you what technology of wood aging can be, its types and methods.
Recently there has been a fashion for semi-antique things. This fashion can be seen almost everywhere where there is luxury and wealth, these are retro cars at exorbitant prices, these are luxurious castles, this is antique furniture interior. But not everyone knows that aging wood, this is also called the wood brushing operation, can be done at home, while giving it an exotic look just for the owner. Today I made a selection of the easiest ways to artificially age a tree. We have selected three ways of aging that can be seen in the video.
Aged wood in the interior ...
For artificial aging of wood, the following improvised tools are needed:
- Axe.
- Gas burner or blowtorch.
- Bulgarian with a brass and plastic brush.
- Stain, varnish or other coating.
Wood aging with pre-treatment
The first method consists of the following operations:
- Processing wood with hand tools, giving it irregularities.
- Wood cleaning. This operation is performed to remove soft fibers.
- Covering it with stain.
Wood brushing by deep firing
The second way to brush wood is to burn it with a gas burner or blowtorch. The firing depth should be several millimeters.
Aging by surface firing
Another way of brushing wood is called wood texturing. Here, the point is to remove soft fibers from the surface of the wood, then apply a stain on them.
Extraordinary ways of wood aging
Experts offer several more extraordinary ways to age a tree:
- Dry the wood in the sun until cracking and cover it with stain.
- Treatment of wood with black tea and then with vinegar.
- Beat off the top layer of wood with a metal object, and then cover it with varnish, stain or other coating.
Good luck and see you again, Andrey Noak was with you!
Today, one of the fashionable materials used in the decoration of any premises for their intended purpose is aged wood. Under the natural conditions of its growth, any tree ages very slowly, therefore, a special technique for working with wood, brushing, has been created and specially applied. This process consists in the artificial aging of the necessary lumber.
What is the brushing process
Brushing is the artificial aging (aging) of wood using various devices and special techniques. The whole process of work consists in removing soft top wood fibers with a hard, metal brush.
As a result of this work, a solid surface remains, on which the pattern and structure of annual rings is clearly expressed. In the future, a special shade is selected, which helps to further reflect the desired effect of wood aging.
The use of brushing opens up the widest possibilities for changing the texture and color of various types of wood. Special tinting allows you to express the effect of patina, when the main wood is painted in one tone, and the pores of the tree in a completely different one.
Artificial aging is most easily amenable to such trees as: walnut, larch, ash, oak and wenge:
Practically they do not use beech, maple, alder, pear, cherry for brushing. Using the brushing technique, you can end up with a tree with a completely unusual color. Of the dyes, black, purple, orange, red, white, green colors are used.
In the process of artificial aging, the desired tree is also subjected to special processing necessary to protect the material from pests and decay. After painting, the blanks are polished or varnished. Brushed wood is widely used in the manufacture of furniture, it is often used to decorate the interior walls of houses, create various accessories.
The advantages of artificially aged wood include:
- Unusual and the most fashionable appearance of the material.
- Wood resistance to decay and various insects.
- Possibility of independent creation of exclusive things. The appearance of such products can be estimated at a solid five points, they not only favorably emphasize the exclusivity of any interiors, but also look quite expensive and luxurious.
- Decorative finishing of simple tree species allows you to create an artificial imitation of exotic wood species, while the cost of the product will always be significantly lower.
The brushing process requires the use of special tools, and the entire technology of working with wood must be observed. The ease of manufacturing specially aged wood can be independently assessed at four points, but only if there is sufficient experience and all the necessary tools when working with wood.
The video shows the process of brushing or aging wood:
Main production steps
The entire brushing cycle consists of sequentially performed operations:
- At the initial stage, the upper surface of the wood is processed using brushes with metal bristles. As a result of this process, it is necessary to remove the softest, outer fibers of the tree.
- Next is grinding. This is achieved by using a polymer, abrasive brush or using sandpaper with large grains.
- After the preparatory stages, stain or other necessary dyes are used. It is the correct use of dyes that allows you to achieve the desired effect of antiquity.
- After the treated wood dries, the surface is polished and multi-layer varnished.
Wood aging at home
Wood brushing, if necessary, can be completely done at home on your own. You will need to purchase special metal and abrasive brushes, grinding devices, dyes and varnish. In production, artificial aging is carried out with the help of special grinding machines and other devices that facilitate the entire work process.
Automation of the entire brushing cycle allows you to reduce the price of the resulting products. The cost of an artificially aged tree in production can be estimated at five points, since at home this process is somewhat delayed and requires some effort.
In the photo what you may need to work with wood
Tools used for brushing
brushes
Primary processing of wood is carried out with brushes. When choosing a manual brush, you need to purchase with the hardest, metal bristles. If necessary, some cut it with a grinder, this allows the metal pile to be made more solid.
To obtain longitudinal recesses, a chisel is sometimes used. And sandpaper with a coarse-grained surface helps to give expressiveness to the pattern. They brush dried wood, so on wet fibers they will rise during the stripping process.
For rough cleaning of the surface of a wooden workpiece, a grinder is often used. At the same time, at the beginning of processing, nozzles with a metal pile are used, and at the end with copper. A special nozzle "Piranha" is also produced, it is an abrasive-polymer brush.
This nozzle allows you to remove soft fibers, and leave hard ones, which greatly facilitates the preparatory stage of brushing. In addition to the grinder, a drill can also be used to remove soft fibers. Brushes are bought depending on the tools used - for a grinder and a drill, they vary in size.
Aging machines
In manufacturing plants, the entire wood aging process will take a short period of time if special machines are used. The complete set of such automatic machines is represented by several devices at once.
They allow for a few minutes to carry out rough processing of wood, grind it, remove fine fibers. If necessary, special devices for painting and polishing wood are also used in production.
Automation of work helps to achieve ease of manufacture of aged wood, while the practicality of the material can be rated at five points.
For independent work with wood, it makes sense to purchase special machines only if a large amount of work with wood is expected. There are many models on the market that are produced specifically for brushing wooden blanks.
The most popular of them include:
- Cleaning router FESTOOL RUSTOFIX RAS 180. It comes with a steel brush for the first stage of wood processing. Also included is a brush for intermediate sanding and a sisal brush for polishing.
- The Makita 974 sander is suitable for brushing. It comes with a nylon, abrasive brush. When using this machine, certain difficulties arise when processing corners.
- The Felisatti AGF 110/1010E grinder is designed for smooth and uneven surfaces. Included with this device are nylon and metal brushes.
When choosing a grinder, it is necessary to take into account the convenience of its use and the possibility of acquiring brushes that are suitable in design for these devices.
Working principle of sl-6352 wood aging brush machine:
Do-it-yourself wood brushing
With a strong desire, artificially aged wood can be made independently:
- The selected workpiece needs to be slightly moistened, this will eliminate the release of wood dust during operation. First, the workpiece is processed with a hard metal brush. Its stiffness is selected empirically. It is necessary that the brush removes soft surface fibers well, but at the same time does not violate the structure of hard fibers. The movement of the brush fixed to the grinder or grinder is carried out in the direction of the fibers. The rotation speed is also pre-selected on the sample, for each wood the speed can vary significantly. When working manually, there are no problems with the selection of the speed of rotation of the brush, but at the same time, the process of wood preparation becomes much more complicated and lengthens.
- After use with a metal brush, use with abrasive bristles. With this nozzle or brush, all scraps of fibers and roughness are removed. At this stage, with the help of a chisel, you can additionally add various recesses and grooves. They can be given the appearance of natural cracks in the tree.
- In the future, final polishing is necessary, it is usually carried out using a brush with sisal bristles. You can use sandpaper by hand. At this stage, it is necessary to achieve perfect polishing of the entire surface.
- The part acquires a special decorative look if it is tinted, painted, gilded at the last stages. Mordant is often used. Impregnation with stain and its rapid removal allows you to paint over areas with the softest fibers, while hard ones practically do not stain.
- The original look of the tree is given by the coloring of golden or silver paint. When applying the dye, the particles of the coloring pigment are clogged into microcracks, which ensures the appearance of glare in sunny weather. You can use different dyes for coloring, but they must be designed for working with wood. After painting, it is recommended to polish the surface again, this will save the product from roughness.
- At the last stage, you need to apply several layers of varnish. Before applying a layer of varnish, the previous one must dry well and it must also be polished.
With sufficient experience, the process of brushing wood and using special devices is not particularly difficult. At the same time, it is possible to produce the most exclusive products, ranging from wall shelves to cabinets and kitchen sets.
How you can age the wood yourself, the video will tell:
Patination
Another fairly simple way to age wood, which you can use on your own, is patination.
This method is easier to perform than brushing:
- First, the desired wooden surface is protected, sanded and carefully covered with a primer layer.
- A base coat of the desired paint is applied to the dried surface. The first layer should dry out qualitatively, usually this happens during the day.
- After drying, it is cleaned and a new layer is applied. In the second stage, bronze or gold can be applied over the paint, and this can be done in separate areas. This is how the effect of aging is achieved.
- To fix the effect of aging, a layer of varnish is applied over the paint. It can be glossy or matte.
With the help of patination and wood bending, you can change the look of boring wooden products beyond recognition, while the ease of work, appearance and low price of all fixtures are rated at five points.
Applying patina to a wooden door:
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You can personalize your interior in a variety of ways. Most often, this is done by focusing on certain little things, for example, the use of unusual textures or colors. One of the technologies in demand for the formation of the original texture is do-it-yourself wood aging. The technique allows you to give the surface a unique pattern, while the basis is natural material.
- The need for a procedure
- The use of wood species
- Application of the mechanical method
- Applying a coloring layer
- Using chemical brushing
The need for a procedure
Those who want to make antique furniture with their own hands should learn how to give its surface the most realistic appearance. For this, an artificial process is used - brushing (from the English brush - brush). During operation, the fibers of the wooden elements are structured. In nature, a tree reaches such a visual state over a longer period, but using modern tools, this time interval can be significantly narrowed.
Brushing wood in antique interior design
Under natural conditions, an aged tree loses its strength, and under artificial impact, the reverse process occurs, depriving the material of weak fibers and providing greater strength.
Such treatment also helps to protect the surface from the effects of bark beetles and other insects. As a result, it will be possible to achieve the necessary colors and stylish appearance. You can age a tree with your own hands for any need: from small photo frames or boxes to making furniture or parquet.
Reading with this article: Door trim
The use of wood species
It is important to consider that not every type of wood can be processed in this special way. The final quality is influenced by the structure of the natural material. In most cases, artificial aging of a tree is applied to the following species:
- larch;
- nut;
- ash.
The internal structure of the tree should have a visible fibrous pattern. It will become the basis for the formation of the invoice. Deprived of this property, wood species with extremely hard fibers are not commonly used. These include:
- pear;
- maple;
- Cherry;
The task of the performer is to directly influence the soft structure located between the annual rings. In the presence of the most homogeneous environment, it will not be possible to form the aging of a tree with your own hands.
So, for example, by burning, you can turn ordinary pine into a rare and valuable species of tropical wood obtained from the Wenge tree.
VIDEO: We turn pine into wenge
Application of the mechanical method
When carrying out a full cycle of brushing, the following algorithm of actions is carried out:
- primary machining using a metal brush to cut off soft particles from the surface of the workpiece
Rough wood brushing
- carrying out grinding work with a roughing brush with polymer bristles or the use of sandpaper with a coarse abrasive;
- applying stain or other types of dyes to the treated surface;
- polishing work or applying several layers of varnish, in the intervals between drying, sanding “zero” is performed
Grinding the prepared surface
During artificial aging of wood, drills or grinders are used to reduce the amount of manual labor and increase productivity. The process uses brushes with aluminum, steel, copper and artificial polymer bristles.
Do-it-yourself wood aging, as shown in the video at the end of the chapter, begins with roughing, when the tool is driven along the arrangement of the fibers with the same speed and uniform pressure over the entire surface.
Processing should not form unwanted "pits" in the blanks, so you need to enter the tool evenly, without much pressure, if the idea does not require the formation of a target rough relief.
The light during work must be of high quality and provide a vision of the natural pattern. In this regard, the lamp beams are directed perpendicular to the length of the fibers. In such a situation, the desired pattern is shaded.
The moisture content of the processed wood is selected in the range of 15-16%. This value will provide the preferred finish surface roughness without raised villi. If, before aging a tree at home, you use a polymer processing tool, you will achieve an effect with a less pronounced relief.
The next step in the form of sanding will cut off the raised wood pile from the fibers. Sandpaper or abrasive brushes successfully cope with the task. You can control the degree of roughness manually.
VIDEO: Do-it-yourself artificial aging of wood. Carpentry Tricks
Applying a coloring layer
The prepared relief with the help of mechanical means is processed by staining. This will significantly enhance the result and hide fresh peeling by mechanical means. Thanks to the play of colors, it will be possible to obtain the required presentable effect.
Staining wood to show texture
It is customary to stain similar antique wood products with stain, and then wash it off. This will allow the material to enter almost instantly into the soft structure of the tissues, while the hard one will not have time to absorb the applied color. The natural beauty of the material will fully manifest itself outside.
It will be possible to leave particles of gold paint on the surface if you apply a small layer of it with a brush, and then remove the residue from the surface with a hard spatula. The particles will penetrate into the depressions and pores, which will ensure a successful result.
You can protect the cavities and grooves formed during the machining process with a transparent putty. This technique is useful in the manufacture of countertops, shelves or other practical surfaces. During their operation, fine dirt will not be clogged into relief zones.
Since the tree must be artificially aged carefully and with the possibility of its use, the finishing operations are:
- polishing;
- varnishing;
- waxing.
It will also be possible to achieve an interesting texture for designers with the help of craquelure varnishing. It forms small cracks and chips on the front side. Paint or coal dust must be rubbed into them, providing a unique individual pattern.
Decorating brushed wood with craquelure varnish
Choose craquelure in specialized stores and within expiration dates. In most cases, expired varnish does not give a cracking effect.
Read this article: How to make and decorate arches in an apartment
Using chemical brushing
In the process of chemical action on the fibers, it is possible to achieve similar results that are obtained from mechanical processing. For this, active solutions are used that can affect the structure of the soft fiber. Corroding the desired areas, an original pattern is formed on the surface of a wooden blank.
Chemical brushing
The technique does not require the use of brushes and sandpaper during the active phase. For several cycles of applying and washing off the solution, the canvas is transformed.
In pickling, preparations are used that contain particles that are poisonous to humans, therefore, in order to prevent poisoning of the body with chemical vapors, it is recommended to work in open space.
The chemical solutions that are used in fiber softening contain a high percentage of alkali. You can take for this purpose a drug that cleans the oven. After a good rubbing, the layer is washed off, and the cycle is repeated until the desired effect is obtained. After etching, the finishing operations coincide with those that were carried out during machining.
Work with chemicals should be carried out in compliance with personal protective equipment: gloves, goggles, a petal and a protective gown or apron. After the operation, all residues of the substance from the surfaces are washed off under running water.
VIDEO: How to make an antique wood table top with your own hands
Interior and household items decorated with artificially aged wood:
Staircase made of ordinary pine
Table and chairs - made of larch
Kitchen. Facade - larch, shelves - pine
Modern design developments for interior design or the creation of furniture structures made of natural wood have recently proven themselves to be very original proposals. One of the fashion trends is the use of wood with the effect of aging, which is achieved by artificial methods.
What is brushing?
The word "brushing" is translated from English as "brush". Do-it-yourself wood brushing is done with a hard brush, which removes some of the fibers from the surface of the workpiece, and the created relief is emphasized by coatings. The process involves the creation of a surface in which rings appear and a pronounced structure.
How does a tree age?
Today, ordinary furniture can be given an original style if the wood is artificially aged using special methods. Interiors made of such details will also look expensive. Natural conditions help the tree grow old, but it takes quite a long time. At home, by reducing the time, you can get the final result by subjecting the wood to mechanical processing and coating with special compounds. In this article, the home master will receive not only advice, but also the answer to the question of how to age a tree with your own hands using special methods.
A few tips:
- A good effect can be achieved if used for work old boards. The absence of such simple material at home or on the site does not mean that it is not nearby. Most often, neighbors are willing to give away unwanted boards for free.
- It should be remembered that the purchase of old boards facilitates the work process, it is not difficult to age them.
- Wood different breeds ages differently regardless of the fact that the same coating materials are used. The fastening of products with different aging effects must be provided in advance in the finished wooden structure.
- A finished aged board today can be easily purchased at a store or on the market, sometimes there is no need to do the work.
Necessary materials
Work on the aging of the tree is carried out using:
- brushes with metal bristles;
- circular brush;
- sandpaper;
- sawdust brushes;
- several brushes;
- white spirit (solvent);
- dark "Pinotex";
- transparent and white azure "Belinka";
- big sponge.
Wood processing can be carried out in five ways.
Wood aging workshops
1. Aging by removing fibers from the surface, followed by painting.
For aging a tree with your own hands is used brush with metal bristles. It removes some fibers, due to which a unique pattern is created, which will later be emphasized by painting.
First the tree is needed sand, then process with a circular brush in an automated way. You can use a brush with a metal bristle and carry out the processing manually. In any case, the lines are drawn along the fibers.
When the sawdust is removed, a completely new look of the board is revealed, which needs to be emphasized with paint to age the wood.
Then the cleaned product is processed twice with a brush or roller, a translucent azure is applied to it. Belinka».
After a short time, a small layer of coating must be removed with a sponge to reveal relief. If such an aging effect satisfies the master, he can apply a transparent varnish on top.
In another case, the effect can be emphasized by applying another thin layer. azure, which is also removed with a sponge to make the bleached linen popular in this style. Lacquer or transparent paint is applied to the dried tree in one layer.
Various elements of wooden structures, made using this technology of wood aging, are perfectly combined in the old style.
2. Creating the effect of aging with a brush.
With the help of a brush, the wood is processed manually, which is covered with a white opaque azure in one layer. When the coating dries, the product is processed again.
The effect of aging becomes a white surface with a relief pattern.
3. Creating an antique pattern on a tree, which is covered with several layers of paint.
With this do-it-yourself wood aging, you can give it an ancient look when the thing looks like it has been worn from time to time. To begin with, the material is subjected to minor damage when it can:
- beat with a hammer;
- pierce in some places;
- scratch with a cutting tool;
- damage with a screw head or an iron bar;
- and other.
All possible manipulations are performed on the tree that can emphasize the ancient relief. After a layer is applied to the surface Pinotex having a thick consistency. Due to its density, it will be laid unevenly.
After the thick layer has dried, the surface must be finely brushed or sanded again. Damage should be kept small so that the effects of time appear to be minimal. Now the product is covered with white azure " Belinka", which has a liquid consistency. The coating must be applied in a thin layer, not necessarily evenly.
When the top layer dries, it must be scraped off, for which a brush is used, which performs longitudinal movements. The resulting relief emphasizes the effect of antiquity, but the color is still far from the real color that an aged tree has.
Now, in order to make a thing more natural, its shade must be slightly muffled. Azure is mixed with white spirit in a ratio of 1:1.
The product treated with the mixture has a calm surface in a warm tone, from under which the dark surface of Pinotex is visible. In this way, it is good to create aged wood furniture with your own hands.
4. Treatment by fire.
A gas burner is used. The result can be achieved in three ways:
- Wood processing is not required, its structure is emphasized by firing. Then the material is processed with fine sandpaper, sawdust is removed, and varnish is applied.
- Mechanical processing is carried out and the material is fired. As a result, the surface looks three-dimensional, and the tree looks rich.
- Do-it-yourself wood aging is achieved by intensive firing, when some fibers are removed. Then the product is mechanically processed with a brush having a hard metal bristle.
5. Creation of a three-dimensional product with gross damage, varnished.
The wood brushing tutorial shows what you need to do step by step in order to properly age the wood:
- First you need to make the right choice wood. She can't be young or tarry. It is better to use material with a clear structure.
- Manual processing is used plane, and not electric, which is not able to emphasize the natural effect.
- On the board manually with chisels serifs are made that do not have the correct shape. Notches must be made on the edges so that it looks like the product was chopped with an ax.
- In automatic mode with drills and hard fibers of the nozzle soft fibers are removed from the wood. Movement during work should be light. If you use a regular brush, then the processing will be rougher.
- Blunt nail allows you to add wormholes to the decor. It can be used to make shallow holes.
- The surface is cleaned with a brush from debris, it is applied Pinotex Ultra. This paint-lacquer is resistant to environmental influences.
- After drying, the surface is treated fine sandpaper, the processing of which will emphasize dark depressions and light ledges, giving the product volume. The pronounced wood structure now looks very beautiful.
- In conclusion, the tree is covered again varnish.
Photo of brushed wood
Examples of photographs depicting processed material allow you to see the wide decorative possibilities of wood aged by artificial methods. Products from various types of mature wood, opened with varnish, paint, wax, oil after brushing, can acquire all kinds of shades and get a new life.