Woodgrain Finish HOW TO DIY

[68vert]

Anyone have any information on how to do woodgrain finish. I'm restoring a 41 chevy and the PO painted all the interior trim brown with a brush. I would like to go back with a woodgrain finish. T.I.A.
Dave

[Dutch Comstock]

Hi Dave, Wood graing is a very simple process.You figure out what the base color and the grain color are by matching them to rainbow type color chart at the autobody paint supply store.The base color can then be sprayed on in the catalyzed form so that it completely hardens.You then apply the top color with cheese cloth or sponges or natural sponge and learn to swirl the paint to match original pattern.To make it hold up better you can clear coat over it.You will have to practise before doing your original parts untill you get the basic pattern and color combination to work for you.There are also steel combs that are sold for this work. There is also a company the makes printing dies that match original grain work for your car and you can perfectly match original grain.This is more expensive and only worthwhile for high Quality restoration.
In the 60`s I did a lot of hand woodgraining on station wagons with woodgrain on the sides. The trade in vehicles at the dealership would be deteriating and the cost of new decal sheet replacemnt and surrounding fibreglass looking wood was to expensive to do. In a couple off days I could have them looking like new. Back then We put the base color on in lacquer and used enamel for the grain color and the enamel really slid on the lacquer and made nice grain work and then sealed it with enamel clear.With todays ureathane paints it will last forever. Dutch

[norm]

these guys in Florida sell kits for printing woodgrain on any surface

http://www.woodgraining.com/

their main business is woodgraining interior trim
for very high end restorations

[Ron Naida]

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=3865

Dave it's pretty much like applying a faux finish to a wall.

On the Studebaker we sprayed the lighter base color, let dry. Then I used printers ink to dab on in different ways. Sponge , feather , brush even put a spot on with a rag then use a blow gun to give a sunburst pattern.

After your are happy with the look and the ink is dry spray clear coat.

I was in the middle of this project when friends came over so we made a party of it.

Ron Naida

[dauer]

Dave,

I attended an airbrush seminar where they showed us how to wood grain with AutoAir brand paint-it has a huge advantage of being waterbased so your top color will take quite a while to dry so you can work with it a while to achieve the look you want. The instructor sprayed brown over a white base and then ran a red scuff pad through it to make the grain pattern, it was so quick and simple it was pretty shocking you can even turn the scuff pad in a circular motion to make knot holes and the paint is designed to be urethaned over. Good luck with your project. I put in a couple pictures of the trial panel we did at the seminar (finished in less than a minute!) you can vary the colors for the desired effect.

Dave
file:///J:/DCIM/100K6440/100_1329.JPG

[340wonder]

Dave,

I attended an airbrush seminar where they shoed us how to wood grain with AutoAir brand paint-it has a huge advantage of being waterbased so your top color will take quite a while to dry so you can work with it a while to achieve the look you want. The instructor sprayed brown over a white base and then ran a red scuff pad through it to make the grain pattern, it was so quick and simple it was pretty shocking you can even turn the scuff pad in a circular motion to make knot holes and the paint is designed to be urethaned over. Good luck with your project. I put in a couple pictures of the trial panel we did at the seminar (finished in less than a minute!) you can vary the colors for the desired effect.

Dave
file:///J:/DCIM/100K6440/100_1329.JPG

That looks good. Did you give the white paint time to flash good or was it wet on wet. I have createx paint in the shed I might have to go play.
I have started to order one of those graining kits out of Florida before. I probley still will some day.
Michael

[dauer]

Hi Michael,

The panels we worked with were white powder coated we just scuffed them and shot the Createx over it. You could use white basecoat let that dry then use the waterbase over it or you could even use a light brown instead of white that might look a little more realistic. I think if you varried the shades of brown a little it would give a nice effect maybe a little black. The Createx is a nice product to work with in that when you just warm it with a heat gun to set it or if you don't wait very long wash it off if you don't like what you see not to mention NO FUMES! Good luck with your project and let me know if you have any more questions.


Dave