Distressed Diftwood hand finish

[stripethespringer]

Hi

I am trying to achieve a driftwood/distressed brown effect using everest paints.

Tried various colours/techniques but still not getting anything like something acceptable.

Has anyone got any tips for achieving this type of finish.

thanks

Steve

[prospero]

Several ways....

Depending on the wood, you can rough it up first. Obeche works well. So does pine. This can be a brisk going over along the grain with a wire brush to more extreme attacks with sharp implements. A hand full of gravel placed on the suface and wacked lightly with a hammer produces good random dents. A milling tool on the end of a Dremel is good for making deep grooves.

Brush on a coat of shellac and let dry. You don't have to be too finicky about it. Then a coat of white emulsion. (Wickes Smooth Ripple? ) Almost anything will do. Then when that is dry, give it a good sanding to take the white off in patches. If you apply wax with steel wool, if will grey it down a bit to give that silvery weatherbeaten look. Or you can add thin washes of suitable manky colours to give it a moldy look.

There are lots of other tricks. Again, it depends on just what effect you are aiming for. One person's idea 'driftwood' isn't necessarily the same as anothers.

[dougie]

i've recently been trying similar distressed finishes,i find liberons spirit stains are quite effective and i'm thinking of getting some rottenstone to see if that works for giving the dusty look

[dougie]

will appologise,wasnt liberon stains at all was chestnut spirit stains from lion