Replies

1. 
   Gretchen | Mar 28, 2009 11:09pm | #1

   Are you talking about grain painting? Faux finish?

   Gretchen
1. 
   SteveSchoene | Mar 29, 2009 02:42am | #2

   That's what I was thinking too.  But after getting  proper basic materials making the final product look right requires the same things as needed to get to Carnegie Hall.  I have done almost none of it myself.   

1. 
   Gretchen | Mar 29, 2009 03:37am | #3

   Yup, but it depends on what he wants to have  happen.  ;o) It could happen.Gretchen

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Mar 29, 2009 04:57pm | #4

   Grain painting / faux finish yes.
   Carnagie Hall no. Waldorf Austoria yes.Was thinking about maybe a "pearlized" streak to reflect the light a bit? Or have I spent to much time working with contact cement?

1. 
   Gretchen | Mar 29, 2009 08:40pm | #5

   Take a look at http://www.hgtv.com  and look for faux finishes. There are kits sold at Michael's and Hobby Lobby.Gretchen

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Mar 29, 2009 09:48pm | #6

   The way to Carnagie Hall is practice, practice, practice.  For the Waldorf Astoria I would usually just walk from my office at 43rd. & Madison--the W-A is on Park Ave, between 50 and 51 as I recall.   

2. 
   oldusty | Mar 29, 2009 10:13pm | #7

     Hi Shoe ,

             To try and answer your question , some of the old furniture was grained and colored to look like QSWO , some was Ebonized also .

      One method I have seen and read about was a some kind of a stencil that I think they may have used a brush or a roller type of applicator with the color of choice .

      One applicator made sort of vertical lines I'm thinking under the QS graining .

         I believe they called it a grained finish , pre faux .

     This method left the desired grain effects you speak of , I have stripped a few old pieces only to find the grain wash off .

            regards           dusty

1. 
   WillGeorge | Mar 30, 2009 06:42pm | #11

   Dusty.. Thanks..

   I was going to post about stencils but I thought most think I was close to the edge before but have finally fallen off.

   Not my 'thing' but I'd bet you could come close with a 'real' sponge. Do they still sell them?

1. 
   HWG | Mar 30, 2009 07:08pm | #12

   If you ever get a chance to go see and hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City take a close look at the pews in there.  They said they were made from pine from the local mountains and painstakingly hand painted with a feather to make them look like quatersawn oak -- all of this back in the late 1800s as I recall.  It is excellent work and I was more fascinated with the pews than the incredible sound (me being a tone deaf woodworker and all).Woody

2. 
   Gretchen | Mar 31, 2009 01:55am | #13

   Yes, Will, they still sell them, but "sponge" painting is NOT grain painting. ;o)Gretchen

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Mar 31, 2009 02:32am | #14

   The one's I stripped were basket cases so no real loss of value. I will check the other links and thanks.
   Woody. I was in the Mormen Tabernacle back in 65 was to young to appreciate much, just that were no nails all wood pegged. The pew think sounds like an huge job but if has lasted this long must have been worth the efforts!! I have heard about people using feathers, the Canada Geese are starting to migrate north so I will pick a few up and keep them.When I look at those buildings, built pre-electric ,let alone cordless you just have to wonder? If you ever get a chance to go to Victoria, British Columbia, there is a castle sort of "The Dunsmeir Castle" was built by a coal baron so it was fit for his British wife! Wow the hardwood floors and the grand stairway all done by hand. My wife said I kept stepping on my tongue, and drooled a bit.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Mar 31, 2009 03:50am | #15

   My wife said I kept stepping on my tongue, and drooled a bit.

   You missed your ultimate moment with you wife/mate.. If my wife said that I would quickly turn and tell her I saw her in a mirror I just saw her in. And escort her out of the place before she realized there were no mirrors in the place....

2. 
   integrity_woodworks | Apr 01, 2009 05:58am | #16

   Shoemaker I think you mean the Craigdarroch castle built by Lord Dunsmiur and they where both from Britian , it is catle and a very cool one at that. Thought you might like these pic's. my wife follows me with a clothe to clean up the drool as well ever time we go there.

   
3. 
   Shoemaker1 | Apr 01, 2009 04:26pm | #17

   Thanks for the pics. I stand corrected on the name, age has a way......
   If I ever get back to Victoria I will go again with camera in hand.Do you have any idea how long it took to build that castle? Or who designed it?

4. 
   integrity_woodworks | Apr 01, 2009 07:04pm | #18

   I do have some of that info around here some where ,I will try to find it later today and get back to you.

3. 
   peter28 | Mar 30, 2009 05:19am | #8

   Check out these two books, both have excellent pictorial guides to graining.

   Professional Painted Finishes, by Ina Brousseau Marx

   The Art of Faux, by Pierre Finkelstein.

    

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Mar 30, 2009 04:07pm | #9

   Thanks, will go to the library and see if I can find them.
   Dusty I have melted off some grain also. Seems that a lot of early (1900) furniture was finished that way. I was looking at an old sears catalouge and it made some referance to the wood finish. I will try to find that again and post.

1. 
   Gretchen | Mar 30, 2009 06:27pm | #10

   And when you did strip it, you did take the value of the piece, in many cases. Not that I would know anything about something like THAT.  ;o)

   The chances of your library having those books is iffy, I would think. If you go to Home Depot, look through their books about faux finishes. BUT in the meantime, here is an article --among MANY available on the internet. And if you go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby, they will have very informative pamphlets about it.

   http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/decorative-paint-technique-woodgrain/index.html

   Gretchen

   Edited 3/30/2009 11:31 am ET by Gretchen