Does anyone have any ideas for painting cabinets to make them look like old barn wood?

Answer 1

You already have some very good answers here. Beating the wood with a chain does work. But be creative as well in distressing the wood. Add nail holes, lay a screw, or other pieces of metal on their sides and hammer on it to cause imprints.

For finishing you need to consider what your color goals are. It you are ok with a stain or natural finish, you may want to get down to bare wood and then stain it with VERY strong coffee for a first pass to age/darken it. Consider getting things like brackets and horseshoes and place them on the surface 'before' your first coat so they leave imprints to look like they lived there in the past.

If you need paint rather than stain look into what can be done with crinkle finishes and consider adding just a touch of sand to your first coat.

There are lots of things you can do. I'd suggest you get some test wood to experiment on first so you are happy with whatever technique you decide on. Be sure the same wood type is similar to what you will be using so your results will be consistent.

Have fun!

Answer 2

It ABSOLUTELY is polluting. Motor oil does not have any binders in it to hold it to the surface you are applying it to. The net effect is that over a period of time it will leach from the wood and contaminate the dirt surrounding the barn and possibly the ground water. It is a health hazard, used motor oil contains several known carcinogens created from the heat and compression of the engine. Depending upon the type of engine, there can also be traces of heavy metals. Not good. This practice is illegal in most (perhaps all?) states. In some states, if you get caught the entire barn could have to come down and be disposed of as hazardous waste. The motor oil will be a good coating for a while and the color on old wood can be nice. The protective effect is short lived, again due to the lack of a binder to hold the oil where it needs to stay. Also, the oil is significantly damaged and will tend to break down further when exposed to UV light. Having read some other answers, I would point out that there was indeed a time when motor oil would have been considered a fine finish for a barn. Of course during the same time lead was a major component in paint and gasoline, asbestos was a wonderful insulation, sewage was dumped in the river. We know better now.

Answer 3

I do this a lot. Here are the techniques I use. Use sand paper to strongly round off the edges and corners of the doors, drawers, and cabinet frames. Get a length of heavy chain and bang it against the wood, denting it. Wood dries as it ages, often checking, or splitting along the grain. Use a wallboard saw and knife to create this effect. Awl holes, in small clusters, simulate insect damage.

Paint the cabinets a flat barn red. Allow to dry. Paint over in a contrasting color. I often use a faded blue. Using fine paper, sand through the top coat along parts of the edges. The red will show, giving a time- worn look. Pick a dark brown or black glaze and wipe this all over, let set, and wipe off the excess. The glaze will stick to the distressed features, and to the edges of rails and stiles. When this is good and dry, finish with a low sheen clear coat. I suggest practicing on scrap boards, to hone your technique, and to allow you to fine tune the look to what you want.

Answer 4

It's called FAUX Finish and something I do often.

Old barn wood is usually "silvered"///GRAY, and any browns won't strictly look natural, unless the hint is so slight it doesn't detract.

Certainly on the www using a keyword search you can find hundreds of sites.

I've worked in Theater for much of my life,as well as my trades contracting, and you can achieve the look with a minimum of colors and glazes over, wiped off. I suggest a stiff brush,,,maybe even one that isn't exactly in great condition, and get a piece of barn wood or distressed wood that's been outdoors, as a model.

base color, graining, some subtle knots maybe, a nail hole or two, might achieve the look you want.

Rev. Steven

Answer 5

Strip the paint off, Put snow chains for a car in a heavy cloth bag and beat the cabinet. Then leave it outside in a sunn spot under the sprinkler. water it every day for a few weeks until it looks weathered enough. Paint it with barn paint,

Answer 6

I don't know about barn wood, but if you want the distressed, weathered look try beating the crap out of them with a light weight dog chain, you know the type. light weight with twisted links, or a large very full key chain then look around for just the right stain. Another thing you might look for is "pecky cedar" or pine of the same variety. It has been partially attacked by a wood eating worm that leaves behind bore holes. Looks really cool and rustic. I don't know if you want to get that rustic with your cabinets though. Good luck.

Answer 7

stain the timber with a teak stain and then laquer.
then hit the timber with anything that will dent it be creative use wire brushes nuts and bolts whatever you can think of to give you a good effect.
Then rub in a dark walnut turps based stain so it gets into all the dents then wipe of the excess with a rag .
then finish it off by applying more laquer.

Answer 8

Use an "antiquing kit" available at paint or craft stores. They simulate the weathered effect of old wood.

Answer 9

16000 Woodworking Plans & Projects : http://WoodWorkingHappys.com

Answer 10

choose the color paint - BURNT SEINNA