Replies

1. 
   Kevin | May 23, 2003 01:11am | #1

   Something that we used to do in mass produced furniture to get the worm eaten look was to use an old toothbrush, dip it in this really dark brown glaze-like stuff (it may have been glaze... I dunno. I was a teenager at the time and didn't ask) and running your thumb along the bristles we'd spatter a SMALL amount of this stuff on the edges of the dresser and table tops on this one particular line of furniture. It was quick and easy!

   If it were me... I'd play around with glaze and some scrap wood to hone the technique and exact color/material to be used.

   BTW your proposed remodel idea sounds very cool. I love that look!

   Regards,

   Kevin

1. 
   Browne | May 24, 2003 12:58am | #3

   thank you for the idea- I will try that.  I also heard of using an ice pick and using a dark color to bring them out.  we'll see.

2. 
   Accelar | May 23, 2003 07:31am | #2

   Chains.  The "antique" makers use chains to beat the wood.  Gives the right random look.  The hard thing is to make the finish look natural - i.e. random. 

   Ice picks can do a good worm hole - actually wood bore hole although a little large.  But if your beam is a distance up, the hole will need to be a little larger to be visible.

   I'm have some beams we recovered from a 150 year old dock crib and it has some great square holes - about 1"x2" - in it from the old spikes.  They look cool too.

   Gavin Pitchford

   "Sail fast - live slow"

1. 
   Browne | May 24, 2003 01:02am | #4

   thank you.  Phil S

3. 
   mike4244 | May 24, 2003 06:27pm | #5

   Try orange shellac instead of varnish.Shellac gives you aged appearance. Apply one pound cut with natural bristle brush, each succeding coat makes it darker.

1. 
   Browne | May 24, 2003 10:53pm | #6

   I have never tried shellac.  will it fill holes, say from a ice pick so they appear darker than the surrounding wood?

1. 
   mike4244 | May 25, 2003 09:21pm | #7

   I think shellac will fill ice pick holes, try it on scrap to see what it looks like.

   Mike