How to age wood ? And what is the best wood?

use milk-paint and briwax

Set it outside for a hundred years and let it age naturally.
I know, there always has to be a smart azz. :o)
Honestly, I think it really depends on the look your after, there are many methods to make it look old but to make it look a certain way depends on what your after. Can you show any pics of what you want??

seems i saw an article(fww) that described burning the wood or scorching it followed by a wire brush scrubing?This i belive was in imitation of a japanese method that buried the wood in burlap bags obviously there was a bit more detail in the article.maybe someone could expand ..

-- when a tree falls in the forest.......Quebec ,Canada

I dont know how to add pictures in (sorry), but I want the wood to look ancient and enchanted, with the wood grain texture and knots etc.. Also want it to be dark, and hard wood…

Bit of a tricky one, im then going to try and inlay it into leather!

p.s thanks for your responses so far

-- Regards, Jim

Knotty Alder is a nice wood to start. It’s not real hard but would be easier to distress, and takes dark stain real well. As far as the distressing (aging) goes…dents, dings, scratches, use a chisel to make some score marks. Here is a picture of a mantle I distressed, not very focused picture but maybe it will help. You would have to decide how much to do to it to get the look you want. Hopefully this is a start, keep looking and I’m sure you will get many more ideas from the others here also.
Welcome to the board.

One method is to pour a mixture of strong tea on the wood and rub it in with steel wool.

-- Max

I have done the same as “woodsawdustmaker” but have used coffee, (normaly on purpose). : )

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

Jim:

I use a solution of Potassium Dichromate to age wood. It works particularly on some of our local species of wood including white oak, box elder and pine. I live in Kentucky, USA. It doesn’t just dye the wood, it reacts with the natural chemicals in wood to simulate aging.

This stuff is toxic and regulated here in the States. I don’t know if it is available in Oz.

Here is my State-side source:

Garrett Wade

-- Randy, Rustic Artisan, a family tradition. (No PM's - auto-deleted.) - "I am a seeker, not a follower."

Hey guys,
THanks so much for all the great posts! I will be referring back to this post again for a while! I really appreciate your help! Need to start experimenting again!
Cheers lads
Jim

-- Regards, Jim

I got my Potassium Dichromate from a guy on ebay for about $10 a pound. It will last a looong time.

It doesn’t work real great on light woods like maple. It turns in into a grayish, greenish, real bad looking color.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Sandblasting can produce some interesting aged character to the grain. Layers of aniline dye will help with the color.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

Have you thought about going to a salvage yard and just buying an old piece of douglas fir or railroad tie or something?

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

I’ve used this product http://www.valhalco.com/

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

That’s an interesting product Debbie. I was going to state. Get some very Knotty wood like a piece of branch pine where the knots are about a few inches apart and come in from all angles. If you are trying in inlay it in leather. I assume that it’s not a table top size piece.

Then do your treatment with wire brush and some strong tea or coffee. I think that Potassium Dichromate works on tannic acid and the tea provides that.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

The easiest solution is to go to a junk antique shop and look for old table leaves or other pieces you can salvage. Auctions and used furniture stores are also options. I restore and refinish furniture as a profession so when doing repiar work I use old wood and I have a goodly supply that I keep adding to. Old dressers that are broken can be purchased cheaply and the tops and sides are usually good enough for salvage, table tops with missing bases are usually inexpensive. check to make sure the peices you wish to salvage are fairly flat.
If you want solid harwood make sure the peices are not veneered.

backing soda mixed with water will turn some boards darker. Take a 1/2 hour or so.

Everyone, thank you soo much! Now all I need to do is get some materials and start experimenting! The pieces of wood that i need to age are only going to be small but yeah I gotta get it right!! I cant seem to find a supplier of Potassium Dichromate here in Australia.. does it have any other names?
Wish you all lived over here in sydney! haha

-- Regards, Jim