How do you make wood look weathered?

Question

for my Halloween costume I need to make some boards look old and weathered...I have no idea on how to do that! Please help

I guess I should mention, it's bass wood...although I was thinking about maybe getting some balsa wood instead...

Answer 1

What we used to do in theater to make pine look aged was take a rasp or really coarse sand paper, or a knife, and run it with the grain. After that spray it down with something slightly acidic, and let it dry (about 12 hours), then spread bleach over it with a paintbrush. The softer the wood the better. Redwood is very good for getting an aged look, as is white pine. hardwoods won't "break down" as easily on the surface, so if you're going for the aged look avoid hard wood (and expensive wood). If the wood still has almost a sanded look after you work your magic, spray heavy starch over it. It will make the wood a little lighter color and get rid of some of the glint, but if you over spray you end up with a glossy look (and if it gets wet it will get sticky)

Answer 2

I've also worked in theater most of my life and have suggestions also.

First of all just distress it with a hammer, hatchet, rasp (as suggested) Kitchen knife; etc.

Get some latex paint Black/White/Brown perhaps. Mix a gray and thin it till its a WASH, brush it on, highlite the distressed areas with some black/brown. wash over that with the brown...OR do the brown wash first.

PINE lumber for example will SILVER when left exposed to the environment anyway, so the gray wash is natural.

If you want more EFFECT take a propane torch to the wood in places.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

you rough it up with sanding unevenly and then bang it with chains or a sack of nails

Answer 4

tea