Pine dresser top using newish pine - getting that old look?

[mickthetree]

Hey all

a friend has asked me to build them a pine dresser top for their kitchen.

I have recently made a built in wardrobe for our bedroom, so have dismantled the old pine varnished one. Very much like this one

I just rubbed a bit of it down and put some antique pine wax on it and it looks alright. theres more than enough wood to make what they are after, but what can I do to give it a bit more of an aged look?

going to be 3 shelves, open backed with a bit of scroll type stuff round the top and possibly some drawers at the bottom. similar in style to this

 

[MikeG.]

You want a really dark wax, such as Fiddes "Rugger brown". Don't be too careful or prissy with it...leave a few thick bits in the corners and grooves. How about the odd splash of cream emulsion paint, rubbed off and waxed over?

Mike

 

[mickthetree]

excellent Ideas. I'll look out for that wax.

I did see "Le Salvager" flailing some newish pine with a handfull of chains, and going at it with a angle grinder too I seem to remember. the chains left a pretty cool finish.

I was thinking some 60 grit on the belt sander roughly done before waxing? none of this silky planned finishing tosh :wink:

 

[TEO]

Have you tried tea on sanded wood? Brew up a really strong pot of your finest PG tips, apply with a sponge or flood it with a brush, stains it nicely, near to the soft but uneven finish that old pine gets.
Give it a try for colour on a bit of scrap then finish with clear whatever on top.
HTH,
T

 

[OldWood]

I wanted that look for skirting, door stops, facings, etc. to match old stripped bar and batten doors - the soft set honey colour is how I describe it.

I found that a quick rub over the pine with dilute red mahogany stain followed by several coats of Light Oak gave the tone I was looking for. Don't ask me now what dilution - it possibly is in one of my notebooks - something like 1:4 comes to mind.

OW

 

[MikeG.]

I was thinking some 60 grit on the belt sander roughly done before waxing? none of this silky planned finishing tosh :wink:

Or you could try using the bandsaw.......

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37218&highlight=against+grain



Mike

 

[NeilO]

Doesnt Rico Daniels ( le salvager) give his woodwork a spray of diluted caustic soda before waxing to get that aged look, as I recall he sprays it on letting it "bite" ( his word, not mine) into the wood and when dry applies coloured wax with brush.

 

[mickthetree]

great ideas, all.

I've got plenty spare so I'm going to give all of these a whirl.

Caustic soda, yes thats right. I think he used it to raise the grain. But I may be mistaken.

I like the idea of tea staining.... Tea and Wood. My two favourite pass times.

It'll have to be twinnings everyday tea though ;-)

 

[Benchwayze]

At risk of being classed as a 'bodger' (Apologies to real bodgers)
I find that sometimes, to get the aged look, it's a good plan to work less carefully than normal when finishing.

Difficult to explain, it's more of a feel. Make a decent job, but don't be too fussy. That's as near as I can get to describing what I mean.

HTH

John

 

[gasman]

I just used caustic soda to age some pine doors and it looks perfect - then a little briwax and it was just right
Mixed up a couple of tablespoons in half a cup of water then used a cotton wool pad (gloves!) to apply it - left it for a day or so, then rubbed it down a bit and waxed it and it has that yellowy/browny/greyish coloration
Regards
Gasman