I have knotty pine coffee table that I am du=oing a project for my students auction. We are painting an american flag with their hand prints. I would like the table to look old(like barnwood?) it has a light brown finish which I have lightly sanded. Help thanks

I have knotty pine coffee table that I am du=oing a project for my students auction. We are painting an american flag with their hand prints. I would like the table to look old(like barnwood?) it has a light brown finish which I have lightly sanded. Help thanks


If you're willing to make the effort, lightly burn the surface with a torch (practice on scrap if you have any). You do not have to do the whole surface but a good portion of it. Then wire brush the surface to remove all the char and lightly same with 220 grit sandpaper. This should leave a somewhat gritty feel texture with valleys and high spots. Apply a light coat of flat black paint and let dry. Again, sand lightly with 220 sandpaper and put your final color coat on. Let dry well. Finally, sand with 320 or 400 grit sandpaper in various areas that you surmise would receive wear. You are after the undercolor to show through to simulate long years of wear.

The barn board looks is not just color but also texture and grain. I would try a wire wheel on a electric drill to add texture. Practice on a piece of scrap until you get the look you want, round over all edges.

Just a thought, be careful, if that piece is not solid wood, if it has that veneer/laminate -that top thin piece that some furniture has to create the external look and underneath is just normal ugly looking wood not being solid pine then you'll sand right through the veneer into the not pine wood underneath. I've done that and boy did I kick myself after, I know now, piece of furniture ruined and all. :rolleyes: Just a thought, I don't mean to confuse or get too much in the middle of this topic, just don't want you to make my mistake. Good luck with your project