Thread: Product or technique needed to fake the "silver effect" (aging)

I think you've lucked out here, that's something that as far as I know cannot be faked. Making wood look aged and weathered using stain never works.

And I've not heard of a chemical treatment that will achieve it either.

Sorry.

Saw one of the companies had made "silver" and "grey" stains for decking. Also found once a video of someone who sprayed the wood with bi-carb soda and left it in the sun for the day. Did put the link on the forum once when someone else was also wanting the effect. I gotta go to work now, but you could do a forum search for aged wood or grey stain or something.

ended up using the bunnings grey decking oil...

it looked rubbish.... no better than smeared on paint...
the client was happy, but i wouldn't have been...

Originally Posted by Chikoroll

ended up using the bunnings grey decking oil...

it looked rubbish.... no better than smeared on paint...
the client was happy, but i wouldn't have been...

That's disappointing.

Model makers use Steel wool dissolved in white vinegar, just paint it on. Turns light coloured timber grey as it dries, no idea how it would work on a dark coloured timber.

Originally Posted by bsrlee

Model makers use Steel wool dissolved in white vinegar, just paint it on. Turns light coloured timber grey as it dries, no idea how it would work on a dark coloured timber.

That's ebonizing and can turn some woods completely black. (Tassie oak goes a really good black. ) Which is fun too. But I think not quite the effect wanted here.

Figuring that there must be a way of doing this chemically I've been having a poke around. I came across this site.

I says Ferrous sulfate will turn wood grey or blue, you'd have to test a piece and maybe distress it a bit as will (sand blast - wire brush) but it might give you something of the effect your looking for.

Wood Finishing Enterprises

Originally Posted by dr4g0nfly

Figuring that there must be a way of doing this chemically I've been having a poke around. I came across this site.

I says Ferrous sulfate will turn wood grey or blue, you'd have to test a piece and maybe distress it a bit as will (sand blast - wire brush) but it might give you something of the effect your looking for.

Wood Finishing Enterprises

Oh! Interesting info.

The "weathered, gray" look which most woods develop is a result of three things:
1. Sun (UV) bleaching and subsequent leaching of non-fibrous wood chemicals.
2. With those gone, there's more opportunity for air to get into the surface wood cells.
3. With those gone, the adhesion of one wood fiber cell to the next is reduced and
the (microscope level) the surface wood cells separate from each other.

In my laboratory experience, you can't fake it. But you might accelerate the condition.
As soon as you add anything to fill the air space voids, the magic is gone.
I've made lots of simple picture frames with 50+ yr old weathered wood. They look great.
The single finish which works the best is "nothing at all." Don't mess with it.