Replies

1. 
   Archibald | Aug 13, 2006 04:22pm | #1

   Have you considered layering pink and white milk paint and then lightly sanding the outer layer of white?

1. 
   rockleah | Aug 15, 2006 12:26am | #3

   I've never used milk paint.  Will that work? And how tough is it?

1. 
   Archibald | Aug 15, 2006 08:50pm | #6

   Milk Paint is different than most other finishes in that it doesn't peel of chip as it wears.  It wears away evenly and gently reveals the colors below.

1. 
   rockleah | Aug 16, 2006 05:20am | #8

   Will milk paint hide the grain like paint?

2. 
   oldusty | Aug 14, 2006 01:42am | #2

   rockleah,

                      Usually Red Oak will take on a Pinkish hue when a White wash stain is used .

               Lacquer works fine , imo using a Sanding sealer will not change the color , so what ever works best for the product you are using . A self sealing Lacquer is a durable finish but harder to sand between coats .

                  good   luck              dusty

1. 
   rockleah | Aug 15, 2006 12:27am | #4

   I would be using nitrocellulose lacquer and wonder if using the sanding sealer would cancel out the whitewash effect

1. 
   oldusty | Aug 15, 2006 12:36am | #5

   No the sanding sealer will not change the color of the white wash stain , I have used it many times with good results .

                  dusty

1. 
   rockleah | Aug 16, 2006 05:19am | #7

   How many coats of sanding sealer do you apply, and do you break thru when you sand it to reveal enough wood to soak up the white?  Also, how much do you reduce the white? Sorry so many questions, I feel like I've got one chance to get it right

1. 
   oldusty | Aug 16, 2006 07:05am | #9

   rockleah ,

                        I stain the wood before sealing . How much you wipe off depends on the finish you want and the desired effects . Sounded like you want the pinkish hue from rubbing through the color . That's much easier than a solid white wash with no rub through imo .

         I apply a mist coat then a wet coat of sealer .   With white wash it almost seems like the color rises through the sealer a bit . Sand and seal a second time if it is not smooth and covered well .

         I use Old Masters brand of stain the white wash is called Pickling White , I use it right out of the can with no reducing . Different brands will act in different ways .

                      regards                dusty

2. 
   rockleah | Aug 17, 2006 05:14am | #10

   Thanks, Dusty.  Will do.  I was confused because a cabinetmaker once told me to dilute white latex about 50:1 and mist that on.  It didn't seem to work too well.  I also read in Jeff Jewitt's book that he likes to bleach the wood before white washing.  I tried that but don't see a huge difference.  Could have been the bleach I got from Lowe's though.

3. 
   SteveSchoene | Aug 17, 2006 02:12pm | #11

   Lowe's is not that likely to carry the two-part wood bleach that would remove most of the wood color.  (What is packaged now as wood bleach is oxalic acid, good for removing certain stains, but has only a small effect on the overall color of the wood.)