Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 09, 2006 11:55pm | #1

   I'd be inclined to use Old Fashioned Milk Paint and their crackling medium.  See here for info, click on the Product Bulletin to read about the process.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

1. 
   walnutjerry | Jul 10, 2006 01:36am | #3

   Thanks for the reply----------I have used milk paint twice, I think, but did not remember the crackling media being offered.

   Chairs are not the easiest things to paint to begin with------and if I understand correctly, you should not go back over a brush stroke for fear of covering the crackle just applied.  I think I have a lot of experimenting to do.

   I have read several articles about the process but nothing beats hands on experience. I am leary of the things not mentioned in the articles, those little surprises that show up at the point of no return!!  I realize it is impossible to put all the scenarios in one or two articles.

   Thanks again for the link-------------------Jerry

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 10, 2006 03:05am | #4

   From what I've heard, OFMPC gives great customer support, so you might even give them a call for a chat.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   Gretchen2 | Jul 10, 2006 12:11am | #2

   Do a search on HGTV.com for faux finishes. There are excellent instructions there.

    the paint will be latex for most. There are ways of getting fine crackle and large crackle. I think the large crackle looks so fakey--not attractive.

   The base paint could just be your chair stained. Or a color that your customer wants.

   I am surprised to hear/see that milk paint will crackle. Perhaps the base coat is milk paint. Interesting..

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 10, 2006 03:15am | #5

   "I am surprised to hear/see that milk paint will crackle. "  They use a natural liquid gelatin, which is brushed on prior to the final coat of paint and allowed to dry.  They say it can be used with "some other water-based finishes."  Apparently it can also be used on bare wood, metal and other surfaces.

   I've seen their paint crackled before, but in a brief dash through their gallery, didn't stumble on any this time.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 10, 2006 05:44am | #6

   For realism, you want the crackle only in low wear areas, where fresh paint would be going over thick, unworn, layers of earlier paint.  You will tend to see the crackle on the seats between the spindles and on the back of the seat, except where it rubs on the wall or chair rail. 

   The "natural liquid gelatin" is essentially liquid hide glue, thinned to a good working consistancy.  If you have the hide glue, you can experiment with consistency and thickness of coat to see what kind of crackle will result. 

   Early windsor chairs were almost all painted a bright medium green--with pigment that soon changed to the almost black green commonly seen on antique windsors.  Only later in the nineteenth century were more colors used.  Dark red, or yellow ochre were relatively common I understand. These later colors are the ones that are often used in milk paint.  While milk paint wasn't used on the early chairs, milk paint today makes a good finish, because it does have a bit coarser texture that recalls the early paint. Milk paint, topcoated with a oil/varnish mix such as Watco provides a very rich look.     

3. 
   BruceS | Jul 10, 2006 06:29am | #7

   I believe I also saw how to crackel finish at Franklin/Titebone www site, Using their liquid hide glue.  Great stuff hide glue.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   Gretchen2 | Jul 10, 2006 02:53pm | #8

   For very fine crackle egg whites can be used.