Artificial aging of wood. Aging a tree with your own hands. Different technologies with step-by-step photos How to age a tree to make it gray

04.05.2020

Using wood in interior design is always a win-win option. This is the most beautiful natural, aesthetically perfect, breathable material. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on human energy, has bactericidal properties. Furniture items, floors, doors, ceiling beams, various decorative elements made of natural wood, which can be processed better than other materials, look great in any room.

Why artificially age a tree

It is difficult to get a definite answer to this question, but there are three main answers:

Personal preferences.
The processed material allows you to create one of the fashionable styles: vintage, shabby chic, retro, provence, country style.
If there is not enough money for antique furniture, then you can age the tree yourself. Subsequently, nothing will prevent you from passing off a table or chair made of such material as a product with a history.

How to age a tree. Master Class. brushing

There are several ways to achieve the desired result. The most interesting and most used of these is the method of texturing, or brushing. Its name comes from the English word brush, which means "brush" in translation. The essence of this method is that soft fibers are removed from the top layer of solid wood. As a result of processing, the surface becomes embossed. In the process of natural aging of a tree, the same changes occur with it, but this takes a very long time. Brushing is considered the closest to reality method of imitation of antiquity. It is used to give the wood a pronounced textured texture.

What types of wood are suitable for brushing

Converting an antique wooden surface using the brushing method is not difficult at all at home. But not all wood lends itself to such processing. In order to age a tree, you need to use rocks with a distinct texture: pine, oak, larch, ash, walnut. And maple, beech, cherry, pear, teak and some exotic trees are categorically not amenable to mechanical aging. It is useless to use such a mechanical method for MDF products. But how to make an aged tree from these materials if others are not available? For this case, there is a chemical method. If you need to age the wood conifers, it would be more rational to use the mechanical method.

Mechanical restoration

Brushing is a rather laborious process. The main tool in this case is a hard metal brush. Since it will not work quickly to age a tree in this way, the process can be accelerated. To do this, you need a drill or a grinder equipped with a special wire brush.

Processing wood with power tools is a rather unsafe process, associated with characteristic vibration and the risk of breaking off wood chips and metal rods. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to artificially age a tree and not suffer. Work is recommended to be carried out in a protective suit. To prevent small debris and dust from entering the eyes, it is necessary to wear special camouflage goggles or cover the face with a shield, and use a respirator to protect the respiratory tract.

Chemical processing

How to age wood with your own hands without using special tools? To do this, you need hard sandpaper. She needs to clean the surface, and then apply a solution of ammonia (ammonia), which causes a noticeable darkening of the wood. As a result, the structure of the tree will be able to appear especially brightly, and the noble darkening will give the finished product an antique look.

Depending on the degree of aging desired, this treatment can be light, superficial, using a non-rough polymer brush, or deep, when growth rings become visible. In this case, it is very important not to overdo it, since you can get not the desired textured noble product, but spoiled loose wood.

After the initial rough cleaning, regardless of the processing method, the workpiece must be brought to the desired aesthetic appearance. To do this, burrs are removed from the surface, then the product is polished with a polymer abrasive brush. After that, the wood must be additionally carefully lightened with sandpaper and give it a final gloss.

Patination

To obtain the desired effect of antiquity, mechanical processing alone is not enough. Then you can simply varnish the product. But it is recommended to perform the so-called patination. This will further emphasize the relief surface of the product. Patina is a characteristic luxurious gloss that a tree acquires over the years. Its reconstruction at home is carried out in several stages and requires a lot of effort.

Patination is the process of applying special compounds and stains to the treated surface. They are selected depending on the desired color and shade. finished product. The compositions are applied in such a way that they fall into the pores of the tree, which open during mechanical processing. It is important to achieve a patina effect, in which woody deep pores look a little darker and more contrast than lighter surfaces. When performing such processing on your own, it is recommended to use paint desired color. To do this, the surface is first completely painted over, and then the top layer is removed with a sponge or cloth, without waiting for drying. As a result, the tree looks more ancient and noble.

But patination is not necessary at all. Antique enameled items also look great. With the help of such materials, you can create a real masterpiece, which will be distinguished from real antiques only by a true connoisseur of antiquities. One layer of enamel should be applied to the surface. Then the tree needs to be dried and another layer applied. When re-painting the enamel, it is necessary to choose a more liquid one and a different color. When the wood is completely dry, it is necessary to wipe the surface with sandpaper so that the bottom layer shows through and scuffs are obtained.

Toning. Varnishing

After patination, further toning should be performed. For this process, compositions based on natural oils and resins are used. On the last step wood processing is covered with 2-3 layers of varnish. Then it should be rubbed with a soft cloth to give extra shine. Varnishing fixes all previous stages and gives the product a finished look. Despite the fact that the process is laborious, anyone can master it. The main thing is to follow the technology. Then it will be clear how to age a tree with your own hands.

Brushing Secrets

How to age a tree to get the best effect? To do this, you need to know some subtleties.

The main surface is painted over with the following colors: white, red, black, blue, yellow, purple, brown, orange. For pores take blue, red, yellow and white colors.
If you look at a board tinted with paint at an angle, you can notice the heterogeneity of the application.
Manual brushing allows you to do the work more artistically, although the process will be very long, unlike the automatic method.
The more defects (knots, curls, eyes) wood has, the better the product made from it will look.

Where can treated wood be used?

Far from every dwelling you can find processed material, since it is not enough just to age a tree. It is very important to use it correctly in the interior. Thanks to the use of the brushing method, you can create exclusive, almost antique products. For example, furniture items: exquisite book shelves, chests of drawers, cabinets, kitchen sets, country furniture, picture frames or mirrors, candlesticks and other decor.

This method is perfect for processing parquet and floorboards, as well as for the manufacture of doors, partitions, and various wooden elements. Antique-treated wood is often used in the decoration of the walls of a home bath or sauna, non-standard rooms or a whole house, retro cafes, bars, billiard rooms.

Today, it is no secret to anyone how to age a tree. In addition to brushing, there are many more ways. They differ in the complexity of the technology and the amount of time spent. But regardless of the choice, aged wood helps to create a unique spiritual atmosphere in any room, to connect eternal values and the spirit of modern times, to fill the house with an atmosphere of noble antiquity.

Artificially aged wood is a unique finishing material. Practical, inexpensive, fully retaining its strength characteristics, but at the same time possessing original beauty and the charm of antiquity. The scope of such a tree is wide: interior design, furniture manufacturing, facade decoration, arbors, stairs, even fences are made from it. The most important thing is that wood processing does not require special knowledge or experience, and anyone can handle it. Let us consider in more detail how to age a tree on your own, and what is needed for this.

There are three effective ways age wood - mechanical, chemical and thermal. Depending on the chosen method, the final result has certain differences.

The mechanical method includes two types of processing - brushing and patination. Both types can be used together or separately, depending on the material and the desired result:

brushing - the surface is treated with a metal brush to remove soft fibers and expose annual rings. As a result of such processing, the upper layer acquires a pronounced relief, which is further emphasized by the application of glazing compositions. This method is the most time-consuming and is used mainly for hardwoods - pine, larch, spruce, oak, walnut;

patination - surface treatment with coloring compositions, followed by polishing. It is used for soft woods, as well as wood with a slightly pronounced texture - maple, cherry, beech and others. Wood wax and stain can be used along with the paint to give a brighter pattern.

The chemical method consists in treating the top layer of the tree with various compounds that change the color of the fibers. Ammonia and products containing alkali, for example, liquid for cleaning stoves or sewers, are suitable for this. This method can only be used for rocks containing tannins, that is, hardwoods. Chemical treatment of coniferous wood will not give the desired effect.

The thermal method is the firing of wood with a gas burner or blowtorch. The type of tree does not matter. They do not burn much, if only the texture of the fibers appears more clearly, and then the carbon deposits are removed with a metal brush. Next, cover the surface with a stain or varnish to give the wood more decorative look. In general, the process is not difficult, but requires caution and safety.

brushing technology

Tools and materials for processing

In the process of work you will need:

hand planer;
chisel or small hatchet;
steel brush;
angle grinder with brush attachments;
sandpaper, large and small;
paint brushes;
dense sponge;
tinting antiseptic for wood (for example, "Pinotex");
white azure;
brush with soft bristles.

Prices for cordless drill/driver

Cordless Drill

Rough cleaning should be done with a steel bristle nozzle, but for finishing better fit nylon and copper. There is a special nozzle called "Piranha". It is a polymer-abrasive brush that can effectively remove soft fibers from the surface and leave hard ones. The grinder can be replaced with a drill, such nozzles are also produced for it. In extreme cases, you can get by with a hand tool, but this is long and tedious.

Piranha brush

The wood should be dense, strong, not damp. Resinous boards should also not be taken, as the resin makes processing difficult. The presence of knots is welcome, as they make the pattern more pronounced and decorative. In the absence of experience in such work, take a small piece of unplaned board or timber, up to half a meter long.

In the process of such work, a lot of fine dust is always formed, so it is best to do it on fresh air. If the weather does not allow, take care of the possibility of airing the room and be sure to prepare a protective mask or at least goggles.

Step 1. The workpiece is laid on a flat surface and processed with a manual planer. It is better not to use an electric tool, as it leaves small transverse stripes, which reduces the naturalness of the pattern.

Step 2 With the help of a chisel or a corner of an ax over the entire surface, you need to make chaotic chips, shallow and shapeless, to give the material a rougher look.

Step 3 Now with a metal brush you need to tear off the soft fibers. The brush should be driven only along the fibers, pressing the tool against the board with force.

Advice. To reduce dust generation, it is recommended to lightly dampen the surface of the workpiece with water. But before grinding and impregnation, the tree must be dried.

Step 4 When the relief begins to appear, the manual brush is replaced with a grinder with a metal brush, and work continues. The nozzle should be located perpendicular to the surface to be treated, movements should be performed strictly along the fibers. If you do not need too rough relief, take a Piranha brush or a nylon bristle brush right away and do not press hard on the tool during work. Wormholes and knots on the tree go around the perimeter to emphasize the contours.

Step 5 With a soft brush sweep the resulting dust, and then proceed to grinding. You can sand the tree by hand or with a grinder, the main thing is to remove protruding fibers and sharp protrusions. In conclusion, the workpiece is once again cleaned of dust.

Step 6 Now the material needs to be given color. To do this, the surface is first coated with a Pinotex primer, which is applied with a brush along the fibers. You can use both stain and dark azure - any coating with color that will not hide the texture.

Step 7 After applying the composition to the workpiece, give it a few minutes to soak, and then gently wipe the top layer with a sponge. It is not necessary to rub strongly, it is enough to gently rub 2-3 times along the fibers. After that, all the recesses will remain darker than the protruding edges, and the relief will appear more clearly.

A distinctive feature of good quality stains is that they show the texture of wood.

Then there are two options: leave this color and cover the wood clear varnish or add another layer and give the material the look of old bleached wood. The second option is suitable for processing elements in the Provence style. To do this, wait until the impregnation is completely dry, and apply white azure with a brush in a very thin layer. After it dries, the wood is lightly sanded with the finest sandpaper, cleaned of dust and coated with a colorless varnish.

This method is also used: after brushing, the workpiece is covered with a dense layer of white glaze, dried and brushed again with a metal brush, but now not so intensively. Finally, a layer of clear varnish is applied.

Applying white paint

To make a dark tree, and not bleached, instead of white azure, the surface is thickly covered with stain or Pinotex, and the layer is made uneven. Next, use a brush or sandpaper, depending on what kind of finish you want to get. Sanding gives light blurry scuffs, and after the brush, rough grooves remain and the tree looks more brutal.

Prices for various types of stains

How to make patination

Primary processing is carried out according to the technology described above: soft fibers are removed, a relief is given and the surface is polished. Only after that, the workpiece can be patinated.

Step 1. Take any wood primer and carefully apply it with a brush to the wood. The primer should penetrate well into all grooves and recesses. Allow the workpiece to dry.

Step 2 Apply the first coat of paint. Acrylic paint is best suited, because it is not prone to peeling, fits well on the surface, and does not leave streaks.

The choice of color depends only on your preferences, you can take any shades, the main thing is that they are saturated and contrast with the patina shade. The paint is applied with a brush, evenly distributing the composition in a thin layer. The base coat must dry completely, so they take a break from work for a day.

Step 3 Sand the workpiece with fine sandpaper. Wipe the dust and apply a layer of patina with a brush. Patina for wood is best chosen in the color of bronze or gold, with a metallic tint. Here it is not necessary to evenly distribute the paint, on the contrary, the difference in coating density will only emphasize the effect of aging.

Step 4 When the patina begins to set, you need to take a dry rag and wipe certain areas. After the paint has dried, the wood is covered with a transparent varnish.

Types of patina for wood

Composition type	Characteristics
	Water-soluble composition, characterized by slow drying, odorless and great variety shades. Easy to apply and blend, perfectly emphasizes the surface relief
	Very thick composition with a pearly sheen. It is applied to protruding areas with a dry brush, in recesses - with a sponge. Easily rubbed and gives the maximum effect of antiquity
	The composition is dark brown, most often used for shading relief. Easy to apply with a brush, does not spread, rubs well with a soft cloth
	It has a paste-like consistency, applied with a dry brush or thick cloth. Considered the most the best option for wood patination

Thermal aging

First of all, take care of safety precautions. When firing wood, there should be no flammable objects and liquids nearby, and it is better to carry out such work in general in the fresh air. Be sure to check the condition of the burner or blowtorch.

Prices for various types of gas burners and blowtorches

Gas burners and blowtorches

Step 1. The workpiece is placed on a non-combustible surface or installed vertically, after which they proceed to firing with a burner. The material is treated as evenly as possible, the top layer should be charred by about 2-3 mm in thickness.

Step 2 After cooling, the charred soot is removed manually with a brush or with a grinder. The intensity and duration of this treatment depends on the desired texture.

Step 3. Having formed the desired relief, they take a grinding nozzle and process the workpiece again. Here it is important not to overdo it and not remove the excess, otherwise the aging effect will be insignificant.

Step 4 Since the color of the wood has changed during firing, dark and light areas have appeared, there is no need for painting. Now it remains only to cover the material with a colorless varnish or protective impregnation.

The use of chemically aggressive substances requires special care and accuracy in work. Be sure to use protective gloves, and the room should be well ventilated. The workpiece is pre-treated with coarse sandpaper and wiped from dust. Then alkaline products or ammonia are applied with a brush and left for several hours. To slow down drying, you can cover everything with a film on top. Under the influence of ammonia and alkalis, the surface acquires a gray tint, characteristic of old weathered wood.

When the color of the workpiece has completely changed, it is rinsed with water, and then wiped with vinegar solution (a tablespoon in a glass of water) to remove the remaining alkali. If ammonia was used, the vinegar solution is not needed. After drying, the wood is brushed, sanded and a protective coating is applied. It is not necessary to paint such material, because then the meaning in chemical processing disappears, and it is easier to do everything mechanically.

Outdoor use of aged wood

Such decorative material great for decorating facades in a rustic style. First of all, this is the German half-timbered style: the original wall decoration involves the use wooden beams rough texture, giving the building a characteristic appearance.

Country-style trim also allows the use of aged wood: this is the sheathing itself, and the shutters, and entrance doors, as well as decorative elements.

Railings, steps, support pillars at the porch - all this can also be made using the described wood processing methods. By practicing on small pieces, you can effortlessly cope with any surface. Of course, large-volume elements, such as cladding for a house, are not so easy to process manually, but there are special machines for sale for this. The most important thing is to have a desire, and then everything will definitely work out.

Video - How to age a tree

Video - Wood patination

Video - Wood aging by firing

Video - Chemical way of aging wood

Wood aging is gaining more and more popularity among lovers of antique furniture. Russian manufacturers have noticed this trend. Many large factories in the Russian Federation have special lines that produce furniture using the technique of brushing or artificial aging. Not everyone can afford such furniture, but even fragile ones can turn wooden boards into an old masterpiece at home. women's hands. Today we will get acquainted with 4 ways of artificial aging of a tree and learn how to apply them in everyday life.

Brushing - an analysis of the basics of popular technology

Take wooden board, put it in front of you. What do you see? Tree pattern. Each breed has its own unique pattern, which consists of combined light and dark lines. They are created over the years as the tree grows. In winter, dark fibers with a dense structure grow, and in summer - soft light colors. Under the influence of moisture, sun, wind and weather conditions, the soft layer with light fibers is gradually erased, the board takes on an old look. To achieve the natural effect of aging wood will have to wait decades. Fortunately, there is a simple and quick procedure for brushing. As a result of thermal, chemical and mechanical impact, wood acquires a convex texture with worn edges and chips, which is characteristic of a "living tree" with a centuries-old history.

The brushing technique comes from the English word "brush", translated as a brush. For aging, a metal brush is really used. However, this is not the only tool that allows you to achieve the effect of an old tree.

After brushing with abrasive materials, the wood is covered with paint or stain, opened with varnish. Lacquer materials emphasize the new texture and extend the life of the wood. Standard paints can be combined with shades of bronze, gold, silver. To achieve maximum effect, it is important to choose the right wood. For brushing, wood species such as larch, merbau, wenge, alder, ash, oak, metoba, kempas are suitable. Spruce and pine look especially good in this technique. But beech, maple, teak, juniper, birch, alder, pear, cherry are bad examples for brushing. After processing, the drawing should be expressive and not merge, which cannot be achieved with the above breeds. So pay attention to the peculiarity of the pattern. The more expressive it is, the more interesting the result will be. The presence of chips, hollows and knots on the surface will be an additional advantage. Depending on the brushing method chosen, it takes from several hours to days to work.

What to age in the interior - we understand the issue in more detail

Aged wood in the interior is the main attribute of country style and Provence. It creates a rustic, country atmosphere in the house, close to nature. To emphasize this style, the brushing technique can be applied to the following interior elements:

"pot-bellied" or ordinary chest of drawers;
window sills and doors made of natural wood;
solid wood for flooring and wall cladding;
floor beams;
backyard benches;
shelves, tables, chairs;
log cabins for wells;
wooden fences.

Natural wood with the effect of aging goes well with other natural materials (stone, leather, metal). Brushing is often used by craftsmen who create products. handmade. Here are some more ideas from this series: a designer lamp, a notebook with rough leather and wood trim, wrought iron garden furniture

Method number 1 - a metal brush and translucent glaze

The easiest option for aging wood is to use a stiff metal brush with a handle. After intensive movements on the surface of the wood, the texture of the material appears on it, which is then emphasized finishing. Before aging the wood, we sand the surface with sandpaper with a grit of 150. Then we take a metal brush and go through it along the line of fibers until characteristic stripes and bulges appear. It should be noted that the manual brushing process is lengthy, so be patient. Intense movements paid off, soft fibers were removed and texture appeared on the surface. Remove the resulting wood chips with a soft brush, not with your hand, otherwise you can drive a splinter.

The tree is changing before our eyes. To emphasize its relief, we cover the surface with 2 layers of translucent glaze. Such material already looks attractive. After a couple of minutes, remove the extra layer of glaze with a sponge and open the tree with varnish. If it seems to you that something is missing, you can in the Provence style. Use white glaze, applying it after the first coat of translucent glaze. Remove the fresh glaze with a sponge after 3 – 5 minutes after application in a chaotic manner. The final stage is varnishing or transparent glaze.

Simplified to a minimum option - the use of a metal brush and white glaze. We pass over the surface with a brush, cover it with white glaze and again, after drying, brush off thick areas with a brush finish. Thanks to this simple method aging of a tree, a whitewashed board with a slight perennial bloom is obtained.

Method number 2 - multi-layer staining

To make wood look like real antiques, you need to work hard. One way to do this is multi-layer staining. What is needed for this, we will find out a little later, but for now we will work a little on the wood manually. Take an awl, a hammer, a file, self-tapping screws, rods and leave a mark on each tool. Small chips, cracks, scratches and abrasions will give the naturalness of antiquity. The main thing is not to overdo it.

Now let's move on to the paints, you will need:

primer for wood Pinotex;
tinting paint;
white glaze;
white spirit for dilution.

For the first layer, take a Pinotex wood primer and spread it over the entire surface. Pinotex primer is thicker than glaze. It is used in cases where it is necessary to create a thick base layer. After the first layer has completely dried, we apply tinting paint (antiseptic). Wait for everything to dry and move on to the next step. We take fine and large sandpaper, a metal brush. We work alternately with all the tools, creating a natural raid of time. Next, take the white glaze, dip the brush into it, remove the excess and spread it over the wood. It is not necessary to apply glaze densely and evenly. The lower dark layer should be visible through it. Again we take a metal brush and go through the dried surface, creating more visible gaps. Such aging of wood looks contrasting. To bring it closer to natural, the next layer needs to be made more muted. This can be achieved by diluting the white glaze with white spirit in equal proportions. Apply the diluted mixture to the surface and wait for complete drying.

Method number 3 - an electric drill with a nozzle and paint-lacquer

The mechanical method with a hand brush is reliable but time consuming. To age a tree with your own hands quickly, use an electric drill or a grinder with a hard nylon bristle attachment. We begin the work with the preparation of wood. Take a hand planer and make notches along the edges of the material. We do not recommend using the electric version of the tool, the result will look unnatural. Before proceeding to the next step, we put on goggles and a respirator to protect the mucous membrane of the eyes and nasopharynx from wood chips. Thick gloves won't hurt either. Take a drill or grinder, put on a stiff brush attachment and practice on a small area of wood. Move strictly in the direction of the fibers, do not press the nozzle too tightly to the surface. If you're sure you're ready, move on to the main part. With light movements we move along the wood, remove the soft fibers.

To speed up the process and enhance artificial aging, before starting work with a drill or grinder, you can singe the tree with a gas burner. It is important not to hold the torch in one place too long to prevent the resin from igniting.

If you are not burning wood, then after using power tools, dampen the board with a brush and let it dry for 2-3 minutes. Next, sand the surface with fine-grained sandpaper, collect wood dust. It is better to do this with a vacuum cleaner to completely eliminate the entry of drifts under the skin, or carefully walk over the surface with a soft bristle brush. Before finishing, holes can be made in the board with a depth of 1-2 mm with a blunt nail.

The last step is coating. paintwork materials. Use paint and varnish of your choice. Tip, so that the artificially aged tree looks as realistic as possible, we paint the recesses in light shades, and the convex parts in darker ones. If you decide to paint the board in one light shade, after drying, sand the surface to bring out the dark details. After finishing the work, we fix the finish with varnish. To enhance the result, instead of the usual varnish, you can use craquelure. After drying, it cracks, the lower layer of paint is visible in the voids.

Method number 4 - exposure to fire and a hard brush

Aging wood with a gas burner or a blowtorch is widely used among craftsmen who want to get a deep effect. Besides, this fast option, which, depending on the use of additional tools, has its own characteristics.

If you just want to emphasize the texture of the wood, do not pre-treat the surface. Burn the board with a gas burner in separate places or completely, and then go over with fine-grained sandpaper. But pre-treatment will help to make the surface more convex and embossed. Remove soft fibers manually with a wire brush or go through with a drill with a nozzle. Carry out firing. After processing, such wood looks noble and more advantageous than the previous version due to a deeper effect on the material. Also, a special effect is obtained by completely firing the material with a gas burner and subsequent processing with a hard hand brush.

When working with fire, remember: you should not bring a gas burner or blowtorch close to a tree. Do not hold the machine for too long in one place, work quickly to avoid fire and be sure to follow safety precautions. Before starting work, put on thick gloves, a robe, goggles and a respirator. After cleaning the surface, varnish it.

Recently, the use of aged wood in the decoration of furniture and interiors has come into fashion. Even the simplest cheap furniture made of wood will look stylish and expensive after its artificial aging. This article will open up some simple and not very expensive ways to make old wood for furniture and other wooden products with your own hands.

AT natural conditions the tree ages under the influence of the sun, wind, rain and other phenomena. And this process takes place over a long period of time. We will make the process of aging wood artificial, which will significantly reduce time and improve the final result. If the whole work is described briefly, it will consist of two stages: mechanical processing of wood (light damage, removal of soft fibers) and painting with varnishes and paint.

To age a tree, you will need:

hard metal brush;
circular brush;
large and small skins;
estimate;
several brushes;
antiseptic for wood;
White Spirit;
dark Pinotex or dark azure Belinka;
white azure Belinka;
big sponge.

With a set of these tools and materials, we can age a tree in five different ways. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

The first way to age a tree is to remove soft fibers and paint

You can artificially age a wooden surface with a stiff brush, which removes the soft fibers of the wood and thus creates a relief, the lines of which will be emphasized by the color of the wood.

The wooden surface is pre-sanded, then it is processed along the fibers with a circular (using a special nozzle for a grinder) or a metal hand brush, as a result of which soft wood fibers are removed from the surface.

Sawdust is removed with a special brush with soft bristles, but in no case by hand, in order to avoid splinters.

The tree instantly changes its appearance, acquires a beautiful relief and a contrasting color, which is specially emphasized by staining in two layers.

For staining, Belinka translucent azure is used, which is applied to the cleaned surface with a brush or roller.

The tree will already have a rather attractive appearance.

After a few minutes, a sponge is taken and with its help the layer of glaze is carefully removed, as a result of which the wooden surface acquires a relief. You can leave the surface as it is and cover it with a clear varnish if you like this color of aged wood.

But if you want to add color to the style a la Provence, then another autumn thin layer of Belinka white azure is applied on top of the first layer.

After a few minutes, we carefully remove the fresh azure with a sponge, as a result of which we get a bleached aged tree, with which we create stylish interior a la Provence. When the glaze is completely dry, the surface can be varnished with the same base as the azure, or another coat of colorless azure can be applied.

This way of aging wood is ideal for beams and other elements. wooden structures, when creating an antique style.

The second way is the relief of antiquity and multi-layer coloring of wood

With the help of this method, the tree is specially given the appearance of an old, antique thing, worn by time. For this, a multi-layered coloring of the tree is used.

Previously, the surface of the tree must be specially subjected to all kinds of minor damage: it is beaten with a hammer, pierced with an awl, torn with a saw, sealed with screws or steel rods, everything possible is done to give it the relief of antiquity.

Then the surface is primed with a layer of Pinotex. After it dries, it is covered with a continuous thick layer of tinted paint (antiseptic).

Since Pinotex has a thick consistency, it can be placed unevenly, as it is much thicker than Belinka's azure. It is used in cases where you need to create a thick bottom layer on an aged tree.

Azure Belinka is more liquid, it is easily and evenly distributed over the entire surface of the tree, creating an even surface color.

When the first layer dries, it can be intentionally subjected to minor damage: rubbed with a fine or coarse sandpaper, walked with a metal brush. The main thing is not to overdo it. The time span here should be kept to a minimum. According to experts, the most reliable effect of antiquity is given by painting with Pinotex with an uneven layer.

After a deliberate aging procedure by scratching with sandpaper or a wire brush, a translucent layer of white azure is applied to the surface so that a dark underlayer can be seen through it. It is not necessary to apply paint in an even layer.

After the top layer has dried, the upper layer of white glaze is scraped off with a metal brush with longitudinal movements, as a result of which a relief pattern of aged wood is created. Such a pattern has a very contrasting color, which is very far from the natural color of aged wood. To bring the color to a more perfect tone, it needs to be made a little muted. To do this, the white glaze is diluted by half with white spirit and the wooden surface is covered with this mixture.

The aged wood, created on the basis of Belinka blue, has a calm warm tone after final processing. Pinotex gives a more interesting decorative effect, with a deep dark color basics. It is used in the creation of aged furniture, as well as in decoration elements.

The third way is brushing and white icing

This way to age a tree is the easiest and fastest. The wooden surface is treated with a metal brush, then covered with a layer of white glaze.

After the glaze has dried, the surface is again treated with a metal brush. As a result, we have a bleached wooden surface, slightly aged with a relief pattern from a metal brush.

Master class: "How to age a tree?"

Let's look at another way to age a tree with your own hands. The photo above shows the stages of work, and below I will describe them in detail.

1. You need to choose the right tree for aging. You should not choose young wood, because of the small fibers it has no decorative value. Resinous wood will be difficult and long to process. The tree should have a pronounced structure and healthy knots.

3. With a chisel, you need to make shapeless serifs on the edges of the board, as if with an ax.

4. A drill bit with hard nylon bristles can be used to remove soft wood grains. At the same time, you should not be too zealous and put pressure on the tool, pressing should be light so that the efficiency of the work does not decrease. You can also use a metal brush for processing - in this case there will be a rougher result.

5. You can add the effect of wormholes, but this is not for everybody. Using a core or a blunt nail, we make holes 1-2 mm deep.

6. Now you need to clean the surface and open it with Pinotex Uitra paint-lacquer. This coating will be resistant even to atmospheric conditions. You can also use Senezh aquadecor.

7. After the paint has dried, the surface must be sanded with fine sandpaper No. 80. The result will be very beautiful effect, when the depressions on the wood remain dark, and the protrusions are light, that is, we highlight the volume and structure of the wood.

8. The final stage is the re-opening of the red tree.

Aging wood with fire

You can age a tree with a gas burner.

There are three main ways here:

1. Aging without prior mechanical processing of wood. That is, we simply emphasize the texture of wood by firing it. Then we pass with fine sandpaper and open it with varnish.

2. First, mechanical processing of wood is carried out - we remove soft fibers, and then we carry out firing. This method will give the tree a relief and three-dimensional look, which will certainly look chic.

3. Intensive firing of wood, which will burn out the soft fibers of the wood and subsequent mechanical processing with a hard brush.

Finally, I want to give some advice:

Aged products from old boards will look more beautiful and effective. If you do not have such material, ask your neighbors or acquaintances, often such material can be obtained completely free of charge, and it will be much easier to work with it.
Different types of wood will age and paint differently when using the same materials. This must be taken into account when collecting wooden structures.
Now in stores you can buy a ready-made aged board without performing the above operations.

Brushing wood with your own hands is an interesting technology that allows you to artificially age a tree. The natural aging process takes decades. But now, with the help of special tools, this effect can be achieved at home quickly and without significant material costs. Aged material is ideal for decorating classic, vintage and rustic styles.

Brushing wood with your own hands: how the process is carried out

Residents of modern cities increasingly prefer styles with a pronounced individuality in the decor of the room: classic, vintage, rustic and country.

The main detail of such interiors is wood. Thanks to this material, the design of the room acquires a uniqueness and inimitable charm. But for a classic and vintage style, a tree in its original natural form is not suitable. In this case, an aged tree is best suited, which has a more attractive and noble appearance. This material is suitable for the manufacture of any element of decor: a vintage lamp, a wooden chest of drawers, stylish doors and window frames, fireplace lining.

Under natural conditions, the process of wood aging drags on for decades, since the original patterns on the wood surface are formed slowly and unevenly. Therefore, this material is rare and expensive. But among modern technologies there is a simple and fast way artificial aging of wood. This process is called brushing. Interest in this method is shown not only by lovers of elite vintage furniture, but also by those who want to diversify the interior of country houses.

Do-it-yourself wood aging (brushing) - decorative technology processing of wooden products, during which an artificial effect of antiquity is created for an ordinary wooden surface. The method got its name from the English word brush - brush. The aging process is also called wood structuring.

The method of artificial brushing is based on the difference in hardness of the layers that make up the wood. In the process of work, the soft light layer is removed. As a result, the areas become embossed, which gives the material a special look that is inherent only in fairly old trees.

The depth of brushing the board depends on its purpose. If it is necessary to create the effect of deep aging, then the depth of irregularities and roughness can be up to 2-3 mm. It is not recommended for the floor to have a deep relief of wood, otherwise the coating will get very dirty and poorly washed. The optimal depth is 0.5-0.8 mm.

Tree aging methods: basic information

For structuring wood, special tools and techniques are used. It is based on the mechanical processing of wood with the help of special metal brushes that remove the upper soft fibers. Thanks to this, the hard surface is more clearly visible, forming a beautiful relief. But this is not the whole process of wood processing.

To emphasize the appearance and make the structure more distinct, the material is coated with special paints that have natural shades. Coloring is carried out unevenly: the depressions acquire a darker color, and the surface of the texture becomes light. This makes the relief more noticeable.

Helpful advice! In order for the artificially aged material to be as similar as possible to the tree, the aging of which took place in a natural way, it is necessary to paint it gray. In this case, the paint, even before it is completely dry, must be lubricated from the relief surface. This will create the effect of a tree that has stood in the open for about 10 years.

A tree with a fine-grained and indistinct structure is better not to use, since the brushing method is ineffective for such species. The following trees are not suitable for aging:

maple;

alder;
cherry;
Birch;

Both soft and hard woods are suitable for aging wood. The main requirement is that the material has a clearly defined texture and layers with different hardness are visible. Wood brushing is best performed on the following species:

pine;
ash;
nut;
larch;
wenge.

It is preferable to use coniferous wood for artificial structuring. The most affordable is pine. But this tree is not distinguished by a beautiful and unusual pattern. And, unfortunately, brushing pine does not greatly improve this situation. If you use larch and spruce, then the result of applying the method will delight you with a unique pattern and rich texture.

Aging technology allows you to create unusual textures that are suitable for interiors different styles. Structured wood is used to create elements decorative finishes, furniture, floors. Brushed furniture looks unique and very beautiful.

Do-it-yourself wood aging: the benefits of brushing

Unlike the natural aging process, wood structuring helps to increase the strength of the material and its longevity. Brushing also prevents the material from rotting and damaging it from fungi and insects. This is due to the use of special antiseptic agents to protect the wooden surface.

The result of brushing is an excellent appearance of the material that meets the latest fashion trends. Using a variety of tools for woodworking and technology, you can get a lot of exclusive things and interior details. In this case, an artificial imitation of exotic woods will be created, the cost of which is much higher than the original price of the spent lumber.

Woodworking tools: brushes, machines and machines

At first glance, the process of artificial structuring may seem very complicated. But the do-it-yourself wood brushing method is the most affordable and easiest way to visually age natural material. This can be done even by an inexperienced master.

To complete this task, you will need a minimum of equipment. In addition, brushing technology allows you to achieve excellent results both manually and mechanized way. Depending on the chosen method, the master will need different tools.

Brushing wood: a toolfor manual processing

During work, you will need certain tools for brushing wood.

Metal hand brushes are used to roughly remove soft fibers from the surface of the part, while leaving the hard ones intact. They are used for the primary processing of wood. The stiffness of the bristles depends on the length of the wire: the shorter it is, the stiffer the bristles. At the first stage of processing, it is better to give preference to a brush with the most rigid pile. It is desirable that the brush has a wide end part and is close in shape to a roller. This form guarantees a more uniform processing of wood.

Hand chisel - a tool with which you can apply deep longitudinal grooves of various curvatures in wood fiber. With the skillful use of this tool, you can get the material of maximum realism by applying deep cracks.

Coarse sanding paper for polishing is used to emphasize the texture of the material, making the natural pattern more clear. To achieve an optimal result in the process of work, it is necessary to move the emery along the fibers with pressure. Using paper with different grain sizes, you can get furrows of different depths and degrees of severity.

The grinder, equipped with special nozzles for brushing wood, is used at the initial stage for roughing and final processing of wood. At the beginning of work, a metal brush attachment is used on the grinder for brushing wood, at the final stage - with a copper or sisal bristle. Now very popular abrasive-polymer brushes. Such an instrument makes it possible to selectively remove soft fibers without affecting the hard ones.

Helpful advice! If there is no brush of high rigidity, then with the help of a grinder you can cut the pile. This will make the bristles harder. When choosing the bristles of the brush, it is necessary to take into account that the bristles are 7-10 times thinner than soft wood fibers. It is better to use a brush with a straight bristle. When working with an abrasive-polymer brush, it is necessary to ensure that the surface of the wood does not burn when the robot is operated at high speeds.

After the first stage of processing, experts advise burning wood with a kerosene burner. Gas-burner not suitable for this job.

Roasting with a kerosene burner will help you complete the following steps:

remove small wood fibers;
dry the top layer of wood;
emphasize and highlight the natural structure of the tree.

Process automation: machines and machines for brushing wood

Mass production of artificially aged wood requires speed of work. Some stages of wood processing can be mechanized, which will simplify the work of obtaining aged wood. To do this, you will need drills with speed control and special machines for brushing.

Consider the most popular models specialized technique for structuring a tree.

Festool rustofix ras 180 wood trimmer or brush machine. Wood brushing brushes can be purchased with this tool. They are of three types:

steel wire brush for primary processing of boards;
brush with synthetic bristles for intermediate grinding;
sisal or hair brushes for polishing the back surface of the product.

The Makita 974 grinder is used for brushing wood. But during operation, difficulties may arise with the processing of areas at the corners of the part. Therefore, at the joints, it is recommended to use a special angle grinder with different nozzles or use a nylon brush dressed on the grinder for brushing. Such a brush is highly wear-resistant and allows you to process the ends, edges and contours of parts with complex shapes.

The Felisatti AGF 110/1010E grinder is suitable for processing both smooth and uneven surfaces. The tool comes with nylon and metal brushes.

Helpful advice! It makes sense to buy a wood brushing machine only if large volumes of work are planned. Brushes for brushing wood can be bought both with a machine and purchased separately.

How to age a tree with your own hands: technology

The process of aging opens up the widest possibilities for the master to change the structure and color of different types of wood. Before proceeding directly to structuring, the wood must be prepared. The material for brushing should be free of defects, notches and irregularities, and the humidity should be 10-12%, but not more than 15%. If the tree does not meet these characteristics, then the wood fibers will tear during processing, and a beautiful result from structuring will not work.

Let us consider in more detail the process of how to age a tree at home. The work with the material can be divided into several stages.

Before starting work, it is necessary to perform the primary processing of the part, namely: to moisten the tree. This will prevent the spread of dust throughout the room during operation.

Next, you will need a manual brush for processing. Depending on the hardness of the wood, we choose the stiffness of the metal brush for roughing. The bristles of the tool must easily remove soft surface fibers, but must not damage hard ones. Move the brush in the direction of the fibers.

If you decide to automate the processing process using a brush for brushing wood on a grinder or grinder, then you should remember that the movements are carried out along the fibers. It is necessary to move the tool with such intensity that the fibers are effectively scraped out.

You need to carefully select the speed: too high a speed of the brush can cause the wood to bake. Using hand tool this problem does not arise, but more effort needs to be applied. Also, manual processing will be delayed in time.

Helpful advice! It is better to select the speed on a separate small sample of the tree. The optimal number of revolutions is 1500-2200, but for different breeds it may differ.

Then we carry out the primary grinding of the part. To do this, we use a polymer brush with an abrasive applied to it. This stage removes roughness and fiber fragments from the surface of the part. By removing all unnecessary, you can evaluate how deeply and efficiently the structuring of wood is performed. If necessary, the grooves can be further deepened, making the structuring more distinct.

The next step is to think about decorative design details. For this, recesses and grooves of arbitrary shape are made with a chisel in different places of the part. In appearance, they will resemble cracks that appeared naturally.

Next comes the final polishing. To do this, you need a sisal or hair brush. This tool for wood will give the details a finished look, fully showing all the decorative texture. In manual processing, instead of a brush, fine-grained sandpaper with an abrasive surface is used. It will allow you to make a perfectly polished surface of the workpiece.

Then the wood must be well dried. It must be completely cleaned of dust and thus prepared for further painting and varnishing.

The use of stain will make the product look old by creating contrasting textured patterns. A generous application of the composition with quick removal of excess will allow you to paint parts with soft fibers and leave light areas with hard fibers. Soft fibers quickly absorb paint, which means they are dyed, while hard fibers do not have time to absorb the pigment during this time, so they remain light. A tree painted with gold or silver paint looks especially beautiful.

Against the background of the natural color of the tree, this pigment creates glare on the surface of the part in the sun. This gives the product an original decorative effect and luxury. The product will look especially presentable if the tree is patinated - painting over the deepest cracks with darker paint.

At the final stage, the product is polished again to remove the roughness and irregularities that appeared after staining.

Helpful advice! Lacquering is carried out on completely dry and cleaned wood. To paint brushed parquet, it is necessary to use a special parquet varnish. This will allow the finished coating to maintain a presentable appearance and performance characteristics for a long time.

Wood brushing: features of wood chemical structuring

Brushing with the help of chemistry is rare, even though the use of chemically active compounds greatly facilitates the process of artificial aging of wood. To carry out chemical processing of wood, it is necessary to have special knowledge and skills to work with chemicals. In addition, the method has a drawback - it is not always easy to buy the necessary reagents.

For the chemical structuring of a tree, acids are needed: hydrochloric and sulfuric, alkali and ammonia. Reagents applied to the surface of the material corrode the soft fibers. The master can only scrape off unnecessary wood.

Stages of chemical brushing of wood:

Surface grinding and decontamination.
Apply a thin layer of chemicals to the surface of the part. During chemical structuring, the evaporation of reagents must be monitored. If necessary, it is recommended to reapply them.
When the chemical has worked, that is, softened the outer fibers, the part must be washed under running water and the remnants of the reagent removed with a soft bristle brush.
Next, the tree must be thoroughly dried, painted or varnished.

The availability and demand for brushing allows you to perform this method at home. When structuring wood, it is imperative to adhere to safety regulations. Work with tools and a machine for brushing wood should be carefully and carefully. All artificial structuring processes must be carried out in special protective clothing, goggles and gloves. If antiseptic solutions are used during work or too much dust accumulates in the air from wood, then you should work in a respirator.

Brushing a wooden surface is an unusual way to make a piece of wood more beautiful, unusual and attractive. This method is very popular among interior designers and ordinary people, since everyone can artificially age a tree. You need to spend a little time and effort to get luxurious furniture or a chic original ceiling, stylized antique. For a better effect, patination of furniture can be carried out.

Artificial brushing of wood: the price of work

The main task of wood brushing is to create and emphasize the unique texture of the surface of the board. The result is a material with a clearly developed pattern. natural material. The procedure is suitable for many types of material. The cost of standard brushing is 350 rubles. per sq. m. When ordering additional painting, the cost increases. The price of the work depends on the chosen type of wood, as well as on the size of the board.

The cost of each stage of artificial aging is usually calculated separately. You can order separately grinding or just impregnation. The most profitable option is a full brushing service from the beginning of work to the final coverage with the purchase of material. It is possible to perform artificial structuring from your material.

Wood brushing workshops perform an individual calculation of the cost of processing, depending on the type of wood, the size of the product and the list of services.

Brushing is performed over any kind of wooden materials:

bar;
lining;

planks;
block house;
planks.

Scope of application of tree structuring technology

The structuring method is very popular in the manufacture of interior items and room elements. Such wooden crafts will become an original addition to classic and vintage interiors. In addition, the advantage of brushing technology is the ability to independently create exclusive things. In addition, this method belongs to the category of simple processes available to everyone.

Brushed board decorate fireplaces, shelves, columns, Wall panels, as well as aged wood is used as ceiling beams. This material creates a unique entourage for living rooms and halls, halls of cafes and restaurants. The interior design is filled with aristocracy and luxury, and aged wood creates warmth and comfort in the room.

Wooden furniture with brushed elements looks stylish and sophisticated. Artificial aging and patination of wood with your own hands allows you to make absolutely any furniture: cabinets, chests of drawers, pegs, beds. The use of brushed elements in furniture and interior design has no restrictions and prohibitions - it all depends on your imagination and creativity.