Weathered but new

[coach]

I am making a display rack that the customer wants to look like it is weathered.
They want to use a grey or antique white.
I figure this is the place to get suggestions.
It is going to be made from MDF and painted.
I have been painting MDF with polyurethane paint with good results but have no idea how to make it look weathered.
Thank you for any suggestions.
David

[myxpykalix]

I am not sure what it might do to paint or whether you would put it over paint however Bill P did a demo of sculpt nouveau and when it was done the piece of mdf looked like an antique. He was using a copper looking base but I think there are dozens of coatings.

[dakers]

for painted exterior signs that need to look old for fairs but need to be made fast and ecoomical i use the crackle spray paints in a can but after that i usually smear some color on top with a rag then using sand paper wire brush and hammer i distress it further until it looks bad enough. I always just pine or plywood to get the real wood effect too if possible but have used mdo board. I also wanted to try using a propane torch to distress the wood then wire brush it to raise the grain or sandblast lightly before putting on the crackle. So far they look very naturally weathered.

[joe]

Sounds like fun David.

There are lots of good techniques to be found on YouTube. I've saved this one by David Kynaston. http://www.letterville.com/steps/sc-step/index.html.

O, by the way, Sculpt Nouveau is a metalizing process and will disquise wood. You may not want that affect.

Joe
www.normansignco.com (http://www.normansignco.com)

[curtiss]

Has anyone ever "textured anything" with a log chain or similar object ??

Seems like that might work for some issues.

[myxpykalix]

Or you could put it in your "Wayback machine" and age it 100 years...(a rocky and bullwinkle reference)!

[frankwilliams]

Jack, don't you remember....
"but that trick never works....."

[joe]

Curtis,

Are you suggesting using a chain on MDF? Chuckle, Chuckle.

[coach]

It is amazing what you can learn on this "shopbot" forum.
I thank you all for the input. Of course there is never a one choice answer.
But around here you guys make some of us less talented guys look really good.
I welded for 25 years.
You guys have made me a better cabinet guy and definately made me proficient at the cnc machine.
My pet boy Sherman and I thank you........

[myxpykalix]

your welcome Mr. Peabody...

[gene]

Hey Joe,
I think he wanted to use the chain on Jack. LOL
No doubt this forum is a wealth of info. If it just had more pictures....

[kevin]

Two cents Use reclaimed lumber from demoltion
Thats whats I use to use for reproductions when I was living in Montreal.
You can't beat it pardon the pun

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