Creating Crackle Finishes

Note: These instructions are also included in the EF Waterbase Finishing video.

Use EF Crackle with Country Colors and EF Wood Stains to produce the weathered, aged look of a crackle finish! Crackle is made with a medium that contracts when a water-based stain is applied over it. As the Crackle contracts, it fractures the top stain coat and exposes the base coat beneath.

1. For crackle effects, you will need two colors, EF crackle medium and EF topcoat.

2. Begin with a base coat of either EF Wood Stain or Country Colors. This will be the color that shows through the cracks. Let this base coat dry for 2 hours. It is not necessary to sand this coat.

3. Apply EF Crackle with a foam brush or handipainter pad. A thin application produces thin cracks  and thicker applications produce wider cracks. Let the EF crackle dry for 2 to 48 hours.

4. Then brush on a relatively thick coat of your chosen second color (EF stain or Country Color). Do not overbrush by brushing back and forth repeatedly. The cracking effect will begin within minutes.

5. Let the piece dry overnight and then finish with 3 coats of EF PolyAcrylic, following instructions in brochure.

Creating Primitive Wood Grain with EF Stains and Country Colors

Note: These instructions are also included in the EF Waterbase Finishing video.

Create the Old World look of primitive grain on any piece of unfinished furniture. In this discussion, we will use Cranberry Red as the base color and Black Walnut as the secondary color.

1. Apply 2 coats of the base color, then sand the surface with #320 or finer grade sandpaper. Finish with a layer of EF Polyacrylic to prevent color blending. Allow each coat to dry for 2 hours.

2. Apply a heavy coat of dark stain (such as EF Black Walnut or Country Color Black) directly over the base color with a polyfoam brush or handipainter. Allow the stain to set for 5 minutes.

3. Create a graining comb by beveling the end of a piece of corrugated cardboard with a razor knife. This will expose the ripples in the cardboard. Drag the comb across the stain to remove most of the top layer of color, allowing the base color to show through. The result will look like wood grain. You can purchase commercial graining combs from craft supply stores to create a different look.

4. An option to Graining is Antiquing. Follow steps A and B. After the base color has dried, apply a thin coat of the EF Black Walnut directly over the base color. Repeatedly brush the stain until it is almost dry to achieve soft grain lines. The wood stain softens the base color to a warm antiqued look.

Distressing

Turn new furniture into heirlooms by creating a vintage, timeworn look. Start by staining your piece. Allow the stain to dry completely. Remove the stain from selected areas, usually edges and corners, with #180 to #220 grit sandpaper. Sanding these surfaces will allow the wood to show through and simulate wear and tear. Optional: Apply an additional coat of EF Country Pine over the entire piece to create the look of aging in both the stained area and the sanded areas.

Pickling

Pickling is simply applying a light color stain to wood; then wiping off the stain to let the color of the wood show through. The most popular pickle color is EF Whitewash Stain or Country Colors White, however you are not limited to white. Apply the stain and wipe off as much as you want while letting the wood grain show through the stain. The look you want to achieve is a soft subtle color. Let the piece dry and apply 3 coats of EF PolyAcrylic following instructions in brochure.

Wash Coats

After applying a base coat of Country Colors, you have an option of applying a second color two different ways. The first is to apply a second color over the base color while it is still wet. A good example is to use Wedgwood Blue as your first color. As soon as your are done applying the blue stain follow immediately with a coat of white stain. This will allow the colors to blend together to create a softer shade of blue.