Brushing wood with your own hands. Exquisite antique chic: DIY wood brushing

- it's long and painstaking process, consisting of machining wood and working with paint and varnish materials. This finishing method is associated with leon42, a participant in the “Home and Dacha” forum, with naturalness, antiquity, and folk culture.

According to leon42, buying furniture and brushing it with a metal brush does not make it old, but simply scratches it or, in best case scenario, make a textured surface. Furniture bought in a store - made of slats and “skinny” - is not suitable for texturing; it looks rather sad and defective.

leon42 believes that furniture for brushing should be rough and massive, capable of conveying the natural beauty of wood.

It is precisely the superficial approach to aging wood, according to a forum member, that forms in many people the opinion of products processed using this technology as “furniture of fire victims.” Meanwhile, the combination of aged wood with metal, stone or ceramics in the interior is always a fashionable and stylish technique that allows all the inhabitants of the house to touch eternity and feel like they are in the Middle Ages.

IN natural conditions Wind and moisture, sun and temperature changes “work” on the aging of wood. How to do something that takes many decades to do in a few days?

Preparation of material

For brushing, it is better to use soft and medium-hard wood with a pronounced texture, for example, spruce, pine or larch. In these types of wood, soft fibers are formed, as a rule, in the spring-summer period, when intensive growth of growth rings occurs, and they are more “loose”.

Wood with a uniform and unexpressed texture, such as beech and maple, is not suitable for aging.

Before working with wood, you should prepare its surface. Eliminate all defects and dirt, be it traces of sweat, grease or other stains that may appear during the application of the tinting composition. Treat any products (small architectural forms, furniture, etc.) after disassembling them: you will spend less time and can reach everywhere with a brush.

Brushing

Brushing (English brush - “brush”), or texturing wood, is giving it a relief characteristic of old wood. On initial stage Soft fibers are removed from solid wood. There are several processing options: light aging - a barely noticeable roughness is created on the surface, or deep and rough, when the depth of the unevenness reaches 2-3 mm (for decorative elements, sometimes for rough furniture).

You can pre-process any part, say a ceiling beam, with an ax: make notches, trim the edges without fear of spoiling it - no one but you knows what the result should be. In this case, you will receive a product with a deep micro-relief of the surface and irregularities on it up to 20 mm deep.

Don’t forget about the “traces” of the vital activity of bugs and worms. imitate them before finishing using a drill or drill. You can also apply simple carving elements: braids, dragons, etc. – you will get “Scandinavian style”.

Sanding: tools and brushes

On large enterprises use machines and automatic lines, where everything is provided - from the workpiece feed speed to a powerful dust removal system. For an ordinary summer resident, such equipment is an expensive and, in general, unnecessary pleasure. If you will be doing this kind of work often, it is better to purchase a brush machine. The most common and widely available is Makita. The most economical and simple option is a grinder or drill, preferably with the ability to adjust the speed.

The entire brushing process can be divided into three stages:

1. Rough selection of soft fibers
2. Grinding
3. Polishing

Accordingly, each of them needs its own brush. At the first stage ( brushing) use metal (brushing). If you are making structures for the street - a gazebo, canopy, fence, etc., then most likely this will be your only brush.

When processed with a metal brush, scratches may remain on the annual rings themselves, which are difficult to get rid of during further processing.

When working with brush, you must adhere to the following rules:

• move the brush along the fibers, otherwise you will damage the annual rings and spoil the wood grain;
• the speed of movement of the brush and the pressure should be approximately the same, otherwise pits will form;
• the light source should be placed on the side at an acute angle, directing the light beam across the fibers - this way you can better see the surface being treated;
• do not press hard on the surface, do not overload the motor, otherwise this may cause premature equipment failure;
• the rpm speed should not be higher than 3000, preferably 2000–2500: the brush can quickly fly apart;
• be sure to wear glasses and do not neglect protective gloves: pieces of wire from the brush can fly several meters away, injuring others;
• take care of respiratory protection and dust removal: during this work, even your eyelashes become covered with “mealy mascara”, let alone your lungs;
• the new brush needs to be “run in”, otherwise it will strongly “whack” the workpiece, after a while it will begin to treat the surface cleaner;
• work only in one direction (rotation), do not turn on reverse - this will “kill” the metal brush;
• The humidity of the wood being treated should not exceed 15%, otherwise instead of a textured surface you will get a shaggy-hairy surface.

When processing stable and hard wood (larch, oak), be sure to use dust removal systems: the dust from these types of wood is considered carcinogenic and can cause lung cancer.

If you want to get rid of lint and get more high-quality finishing , you will need another brush - plastic (nylon), or more correctly - a grinding disc made of polymer-abrasive material. The most common grain size is 120.

An abrasive brush is a universal one, characterized by a more delicate surface treatment. If you use this brush, you can do without a metal brush, especially if the element being processed needs delicate treatment or if you want to avoid the specific scratches left by brushes.

The principle of working with an abrasive brush is the same as with a metal one. It is better to reduce the speed to 1500 to extend the life of the brush. The dust when working with a plastic brush is finer and stickier, so don’t forget about a respirator.

Surface treatment specifics:

• do not sand the edges and corners of the workpieces, especially if you do not plan to varnish them later: they will cling and chip;
• do not make deep relief on seats, tabletops and other horizontal surfaces - they will make it difficult to clean the surface: spilled drink stains, crumbs, etc. will get clogged between the fibers;
• In order to prevent clogging of dust and snags of the rag during cleaning, such surfaces must be sanded with an abrasive brush and fine-grained sandpaper.

The final stage of brushing is polishing or fine grinding: performed with sesal or other synthetic brushes. You can use fine-grained sandpaper, abrasive sponges, and steel wool, removing dust from the finished surface with a wide brush and vacuum cleaner.

Finishing operations

At the final stage, they do tinting (changing the color of the wood by several tones), patination (emphasizing the texture of the wood with special compounds that penetrate the pores opened during brushing), craquelure (the effect of cracking and drying out), and varnishing.

After brushing, the board will look like new, but with a textured surface. To give it an old look, it is covered various compositions, dark colors look more natural.

It is the correct play with the color of brushed wood that gives it an aged look. Areas with soft wood (pores or depressions) are unevenly painted in more dark color, from hard (ridges) - to lighter. Recently, options with light troughs and darker ridges have become popular.

The easiest way is to apply generously dark stain and immediately wipe the area with a cloth or wide rubber spatula. In theory, the stain should absorb quickly into the soft surface, but more slowly on the ridges. However, in practice this often does not work out, so leon42 stopped at more in a complicated way: After complete drying, the ridges are sanded with fine-grained sandpaper. This method requires further treatment with varnish or colorless impregnations, so it can be opened upper layer remains without a protective coating.

Another option is to use paint of two contrasting colors: the surface is completely painted over with the first color, then the second is applied. While the latter is drying, run a wide rubber spatula, removing excess paint and exposing the ridges of the first layer.

Proper texturing is a simple but messy, time-consuming and unhealthy process.

As a result of difficult and hard work, you will receive decorative elements that carry the beauty of antiquity and at the same time have high strength. Every detail made with love with my own hands, will be unique.

Based on materials from a participant in the "House and Dacha" forum

Editor: Olga Travina

Do-it-yourself wood brushing is an interesting technology that allows you to artificially age wood. The natural aging process takes decades. But now, with the help of special tools, this effect can be achieved at home quickly and without significant material expenditure. Aged material is ideal for decoration in classic, vintage and rustic styles.

Do-it-yourself wood brushing: how the process is carried out

Residents of modern cities increasingly prefer styles with a clearly emphasized individuality when decorating their premises: classic, vintage, rustic and country.

The main detail of such interiors is wood. Thanks to this material, the design of the room acquires uniqueness and unique charm. But for classic and vintage style not wood will do in the pristine natural form. In this case, aged wood, which has a more attractive and noble appearance, is best suited. This material is suitable for making any decorative element: vintage lamp, wooden chest of drawers, stylish doors And window frames, fireplace lining.

IN natural conditions The aging process of wood drags on for decades, since the original patterns on the surface of the wood are formed slowly and unevenly. Therefore, this material is rare and expensive. But among modern technologies there is a simple and quick way artificial aging of wood. This process is called brushing. Interest in this method is shown not only by lovers of luxury vintage furniture, but also by those who want to diversify interior interior country houses.

Do-it-yourself aging of wood (brushing) is a decorative technology for processing wooden products, during which an artificial antique effect is created for an ordinary wooden surface. The method gets its name from the English word brush. The aging process is also called wood structuring.

The artificial brushing method is based on the difference in hardness of the layers that make up the wood. During the work process, the soft light layer is removed. As a result, the areas become embossed, which gives the material a special appearance, characteristic only of fairly old trees.

The depth of brushing the board depends on its purpose. If it is necessary to create the effect of deep aging, then the depth of irregularities and roughness can be up to 2-3 mm. Deep wood relief is not recommended for flooring, otherwise the coating will get very dirty and difficult to clean. The optimal depth is 0.5-0.8 mm.

Wood aging methods: basic information

Used to structure wood special tools and methods. It is based on mechanical processing of wood using special metal brushes that remove the upper soft fibers. Thanks to this, the hard surface is visible more clearly, forming a beautiful relief. But this is not the entire process of wood processing.

To emphasize the appearance and make the structure more distinct, the material is coated with special paints that have natural shades. Painting is carried out unevenly: the depressions acquire a darker color, and the surface texture becomes lighter. This makes the relief more noticeable.

Helpful advice! In order for artificially aged material to be as similar as possible to wood that has aged naturally, it is necessary to paint it gray. In this case, the paint, even before it dries completely, must be smeared from the relief surface. This will create the effect of a tree standing under open air about 10 years.

It is better not to use wood with a fine-grained and unclearly defined structure, since the brushing method is ineffective for such species. The following trees are not suitable for aging:

• maple;

• alder;
• cherry;
• birch;

Both soft and hard woods are suitable for aging wood. The main requirement is that the material has a clearly defined texture and that layers of different hardness are visible. Wood brushing is best done on the following species:

• pine;
• ash;
• nut;
• larch;
• wenge.

It is preferable to use coniferous wood for artificial structuring. The most affordable is pine. But this tree does not have a beautiful and unusual pattern. And, unfortunately, brushing the pine will not greatly improve this situation. If you use larch and spruce, the result of using the method will delight you with a unique pattern and rich texture.

Aging technology allows you to create unusual textures that are suitable for interiors different styles. Structured wood is used to create elements decorative finishing, furniture, floors. Brushed furniture looks unique and very beautiful.

Do-it-yourself wood aging: benefits of brushing

In contrast to the natural aging process, wood structuring helps to increase the strength of the material and its longevity. Brushing also prevents the material from rotting and damage from fungi and insects. This happens thanks to the use of special antiseptics to protect wooden surfaces.

The result of brushing is an excellent appearance of the material, meeting the latest fashion trends. Using a variety of woodworking tools and equipment, you can get a lot of exclusive items and interior details. In this case, an artificial imitation of exotic types of wood will be created, the cost of which is significantly higher than the original price of the lumber used.

Woodworking tools: brushes, machines and machines

At first glance, the process of artificial structuring may seem very complicated. But the method of brushing wood with your own hands is the most affordable and easiest way to visually age natural material. Even an inexperienced master can do this.

To complete this task you will need a minimum of equipment. In addition, brushing technology allows you to achieve excellent results both manually and mechanized way. Depending on the chosen method, the master will need different tools.

Brushing wood: toolfor manual processing

During work, you will need certain tools for brushing wood.

Metal hand brushes are used to roughly remove soft fibers from the surface of the part, while leaving the hard ones intact. They are used for primary wood processing. The stiffness of the bristles depends on the length of the wire: the shorter it is, the stiffer the bristles. At the first stage of processing, it is better to give preference to a brush with the stiffest bristles. It is desirable that the brush has a wide end part and is close in shape to a roller. This shape guarantees a more uniform processing of the wood.

A hand chisel is a tool that can be used to make deep longitudinal grooves of various curvatures in wood fiber. With skillful use of this tool, you can obtain maximum realistic material by applying deep cracks.

Coarse sandpaper for polishing is used to highlight the texture of the material, making the natural pattern more clear. To achieve an optimal result during work, it is necessary to move the sandpaper along the fibers with pressure. By using paper with different grain sizes, you can get grooves of different depths and degrees of expression.

A grinder equipped with special attachments for brushing wood is used at the initial stage for roughing and final processing of wood. At the beginning of the work, a metal brush attachment is used on the grinder to brush the wood, at the final stage - with copper or sisal bristles. Nowadays abrasive-polymer brushes are very popular. This tool makes it possible to selectively remove soft fibers without affecting the hard ones.

Helpful advice! If you don’t have a high-hardness brush, you can use a grinder to trim the pile. This will make the bristles harder. When selecting brush bristles, it is necessary to take into account that the bristles are 7-10 times thinner than the soft fibers of the wood. It is better to use a brush with straight bristles. When working with an abrasive-polymer brush, it is necessary to ensure that the surface of the wood does not burn when the robot operates at high speeds.

After the first stage of processing, experts advise burning the wood using a kerosene burner. Gas-burner not suitable for this type of work.

Firing with a kerosene burner will help complete the following stages of work:

• remove small wood fibers;
• dry the top layer of wood;
• emphasize and highlight the natural structure of wood.

Process automation: machines and machines for brushing wood

Mass production of artificially aged wood requires speed. Some stages of wood processing can be mechanized, which will simplify the work of obtaining aged wood. To do this, you will need drills with variable speed control and special brushing machines.

Let's look at the most popular models of specialized equipment for structuring wood.

Festool rustofix ras 180 stripping router or brush machine for brushing wood. Along with this tool, you can buy brushes for brushing wood. They come in three types:

• steel wire brush for primary processing of boards;
• synthetic bristle brush for intermediate sanding;
• sisal or hair brushes for polishing the back surface of the product.

The Makita 974 sander is used for brushing wood. But during work, difficulties may arise with processing areas at the corners of the part. Therefore, at the joints, it is recommended to use a special angle grinder with different attachments or use a nylon brush attached to an angle grinder for brushing. This brush is highly wear-resistant and allows you to process the ends, edges and contours of parts with complex shapes.

The Felisatti AGF 110/1010E grinding machine is suitable for processing both smooth and uneven surfaces. Nylon and metal brushes are included with the tool.

Helpful advice! It only makes sense to buy a wood brushing machine if large volumes of work are planned. Brushes for brushing wood can be purchased either with the machine or purchased separately.

How to age wood with your own hands: technologies

The aging process opens up the widest possibilities for the master to change the structure and color of different types of wood. Before proceeding directly to structuring, the wood must be prepared. The material for brushing must be free of defects, nicks and irregularities, and the humidity must be 10-12%, but not more than 15%. If the wood does not meet these characteristics, then the wood fibers will tear during processing, and a beautiful result from structuring will not be obtained.

Let's take a closer look at the process of aging wood at home. Working with the material can be divided into several stages.

Before starting work, it is necessary to perform initial processing of the part, namely: moisten the wood. This will prevent dust from spreading throughout the room during operation.

Next, you will need a hand brush for processing. Depending on the hardness of the wood, select the hardness metal brush for roughing. The bristles of the tool should easily remove soft surface fibers, but should not damage hard ones. It is necessary to move the brush in the direction of the fibers.

If you decide to automate the processing process using a brush for brushing wood on an angle grinder or a grinder, then you should remember that the movements are carried out along the fibers. It is necessary to move the tool with such intensity that the fibers are effectively scraped out.

You need to be careful when choosing the speed: too fast a brush speed can lead to baking of the wood. When using hand tools, this problem does not arise, but more effort is required. Also, manual processing will take time.

Helpful advice! It is better to select the speed on a separate small sample of wood. Optimal quantity rpm 1500-2200, but it may differ for different breeds.

Then we carry out the initial grinding of the part. To do this, we use a polymer brush with an abrasive applied to it. This stage will remove roughness and fiber fragments from the surface of the part. Having removed everything unnecessary, you can evaluate how deep and high-quality the structuring of the wood is. If necessary, the grooves can be further deepened, making the structuring more distinct.

At the next stage, you can think about decorative design details. To do this, use a chisel to make indentations and grooves in different places on the part. free form. In appearance, they will resemble cracks that appeared naturally.

Next comes the final polishing. To do this you will need a sisal or hair brush. This wood tool will give the detail a finished look, fully revealing all the decorative texture. When manually processing, instead of a brush, fine-grained sandpaper with an abrasive surface is used. It will allow you to create a perfectly polished surface of the workpiece.

Then the wood needs to be well dried. It must be completely cleaned of dust and thus prepared for further painting and varnishing.

The use of stain will age the product by creating contrasting textured patterns. Applying liberally and quickly removing excess will allow you to paint over parts with soft fibers and leave light areas with hard fibers. Soft fibers quickly absorb paint, which means they become dyed, while hard fibers do not have time to absorb the pigment during this time, so they remain light. Wood painted with gold or silver paint looks especially beautiful.

Against the background of the natural color of the wood, this pigment creates reflections on the surface of the part in the sun. This gives the product original decorativeness and luxury. The product will look especially presentable if the wood is patinated - painting over the deepest cracks with a darker paint.

At the final stage, the product is polished again to remove roughness and irregularities that appeared after painting.

Helpful advice! Varnishing is carried out on completely dry and cleaned wood. To paint brushed parquet, you must use a special parquet varnish. This will allow the finished coating to maintain its presentable appearance and performance characteristics for a long time.

Brushing wood: features of chemical structuring of wood

Brushing with chemicals is rare, even though the use of chemically active compounds greatly facilitates the process of artificial aging of wood. To carry out chemical treatment of wood, you must have special knowledge and ability to work with chemicals. In addition, the method has a drawback - it is not always possible to easily purchase the necessary reagents.

For the chemical structuring of wood, acids are needed: hydrochloric and sulfuric, alkali and ammonia. Reagents applied to the surface of the material corrode soft fibers. The master can only scrape off the unnecessary wood.

Stages of chemical brushing of wood:

1. Surface grinding and removal of dirt.
2. To the surface of the part thin layer We apply chemicals. During chemical structuring, it is necessary to monitor the evaporation of the reagents. If necessary, it is recommended to reapply them.
3. When the chemical has taken effect, that is, softens the outer fibers, the part must be washed under running water and remove any remaining reagent with a soft bristle brush.
4. Next, the wood must be thoroughly dried, painted or varnished.

The availability and demand for brushing allows you to perform this method at home. When structuring wood, it is imperative to adhere to safety regulations. You should work with tools and a wood brushing machine carefully and carefully. All artificial structuring processes must be performed in special protective clothing, glasses and gloves. If antiseptic solutions are used during work or too much dust accumulates in the air from the wood, then you should work in a respirator.

Brushing a wooden surface is unusual way make a wooden product more beautiful, unusual and attractive. This method is very popular among interior designers and ordinary people, since anyone can perform artificial aging of wood. It takes a little time and effort to get luxury furniture or a chic original ceiling, stylized in antique style. For a better effect, you can patina the furniture.

Artificial brushing of wood: cost of work

The main task of brushing wood is to create and emphasize the unique texture of the surface of the board. The result is a material with a clearly visible pattern of natural material. The procedure is suitable for many types of material. The cost of standard brushing is 350 rubles. per sq. m. When ordering additional painting, the cost increases. The price of the work depends on the type of wood chosen, as well as on the size of the board.

The cost of each stage of artificial aging is usually calculated separately. You can order sanding separately or just impregnation. The most profitable option is a full brushing service from the beginning of work to the final coating with the purchase of material. It is possible to perform artificial structuring from your material.

Workshops that brush wood carry out an individual calculation of the cost of processing depending on the type of wood, the size of the product and the list of services.

Brushing is performed on any type of wooden materials:

• bar;
• lining;

• planks;
• block house;
• planks.

Scope of application of wood structuring technology

The structuring method is very popular in the manufacture of interior items and room elements. Such wooden products will become an original addition to classic and vintage interiors. In addition, the advantage of brushing technology is the ability self-creation exclusive items. In addition, this method falls into the category of simple processes accessible to everyone.

Brushed boards are used to decorate fireplaces, shelves, columns, Wall panels, as well as aged wood are used as ceiling beams. This material creates a unique ambiance for living rooms and halls, cafes and restaurants. The interior design is filled with aristocracy and luxury, and aged wood creates warmth and comfort in the room.

Wooden furniture with brushed elements looks stylish and sophisticated. Artificial aging and patination of wood with your own hands allows you to make absolutely any furniture: cabinets, chests of drawers, pegs, beds. The use of brushed elements in furniture and interior design has no restrictions or prohibitions - it all depends on your imagination and creativity.

Brushing wood is one of the ways to make the material more decorative look. Brushed wood is widely used by designers; it is used for construction, renovation, and creating interior items. The technology can be implemented with your own hands, and without unnecessary time and financial costs.

What is brushing

This is a technology for artificial aging of wood. Brushing is a decorative treatment of wood using a stiff brush, which removes soft fibers and exposes the natural pattern of hard fibers. After such exposure, the material will have relief surface with a clearly defined structure of tree rings.

The essence of brushing is to imitate the natural aging process of wood. In the spring, when the tree grows quickly, many soft, loose fibers form in its trunk. After cutting, they are the ones that are subject to rapid abrasion and weathering. Hard rings that grow in summer and autumn are more durable and resistant to damaging factors. Soft fibers are easily removed with a brush, as a result the surface of the wood acquires the relief that is inherent in the old material.

When brushing, the depth of treatment and the degree of soft tissue removal may vary. The brush is capable of penetrating 0.5-3 mm or even more. Typically, the deepest processing is carried out to give the wood a highly aged effect. Brushing of 0.5-1 mm is considered optimal, which provides the product with light touch vintage.

Types of brushing

There are two ways to do the job, which have different results:

1. Mechanical. Represents classic version technology, when wood is treated with a stiff brush, and then painted and polished. The finished surface is embossed.
2. Chemical. It involves treating wood with special compounds (acids or alkalis) that corrode soft fibers. The relief of the finished board will be less pronounced.

Some masters use a combined brushing method. At first chemically perform rough processing of wood, removing significant part soft fibers. Then the finishing is done mechanically, completing the brushing process.

According to the depth (degree) of processing, brushed wood can be as follows:

1. Structured. This type of treatment is superficial and is intended to highlight the growth rings and the natural appearance of the wood.
2. Highly structured. Brushing creates deep furrows along the natural lines of the wood.
3. Retro. It has an average depth of processing, is combined with coloring with special compounds, and gives the “appearance” of a material that has been used for a long time.
4. Retro 3D. Allows you to obtain highly aged material with sharply emphasized knots and uneven chamfers.

Scope of application

Brushing technology is widely used when decorating engineered, solid, parquet boards. Aging is also relevant for wall and ceiling panels, linings, beams, stairs from natural wood. Brushed wood is used in the production of furniture - cabinets, tables and chairs, chests of drawers, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of technology

The natural aging process inevitably reduces the strength of wood. Performing artificial brushing allows you to increase the strength of lumber, prevents destruction, rotting, and the appearance of fungus. The properties of the brushing performed are not inferior to the treatment of wood with antiseptics, but only under the condition of strict adherence to the technology.

Other advantages of the technique:

• increasing the service life of the material;
• exclusion of insects from infesting the tree;
• fashionable, exclusive look;
• the ability to create many beautiful things and coatings;
• imitation of expensive types of wood;
• emphasizing the naturalness of the material;
• Possibility of application in different interior styles.

There are few disadvantages to brushing. If not applied protective composition, the pores of the wood will be open, and in places with high traffic or in dusty rooms, dirt will regularly accumulate on the wood.

Instructions for brushing

At home performance it is necessary to strictly follow the sequence of actions, which guarantees excellent result. If you violate the recommendations, the lumber will be damaged. On preparatory stage Be sure to check the moisture level of the wood. Material that is too dry is moistened by spraying with a spray bottle. Fresh, damp wood is dried a little.

Suitable tree

Beech, maple, pear, and alder are not suitable for aging, as they have an unclearly defined wood structure.

• The result of brushing on such rocks will not be beautiful, since small fibers will not give a layered effect. Ideal for working with rocks with a multi-layer structure and a unique natural pattern:
• larch;
• cedar;

pine. Brushing technology is also ineffective for wood tropical plants , which do not have division into annual rings: this is due to the peculiarities of the climate. Regarding the division into solid and soft rocks

It is acceptable to age plywood, veneered boards, and veneer to improve the relief and create a more expressive surface.

Tools for work

Brushing will definitely require special tools. Most often used at home with hand tools, which are inexpensive and sold in any hardware store. For mechanical brushing, a brush is useful - a coarse metal brush with brass or steel bristles. It is designed to remove soft fibers from the surface layer of wood, while leaving hard tissue intact.

When choosing a brush, it is important to pay attention to the following points:

1. End part. The best tools They have a wide end, shaped like a roller. They allow the wood to be processed evenly.
2. Wire thickness. The bristle of the brush should be 7-10 times thinner than the soft fibers of the material, so this parameter must be compared with the type of wood.
3. Shape of the bristles. Straight bristles perform better processing than “curly” bristles. If they are bent, you can cut off the ends yourself.
4. Brush hardness. The shorter the wire, the stiffer the brush will be. On draft stage It is worth using tools with the stiffest bristles.

Brushing removes a significant portion of the soft fibers from the wood. Afterwards, you need to use devices to eliminate roughness, for which you use nylon brushes with abrasive powder pressed into the bristles. The cost of these products is quite high, so many people replace them with fine-grain sandpaper. Such a replacement is undesirable, but can occur. For final polishing of wood, brushes with sisal or wool bristles are excellent.

Hand tools you may also need:

1. Chisel. The tool allows you to make deep furrows if the design allows for it. Using a chisel, artificial cracks, breaks, and various patterns are created.
2. Sandpaper with coarse grain. Used when necessary to further emphasize the natural grain of wood. During operation, the sandpaper is moved with pressure along the fibers.

If you plan to mass produce aged wood, or the volume of work is quite large, it is worth replacing hand tools with electric ones. A special brushing machine with adjustable speed is best suited. Drills and grinders with special brush attachments are also used.

Painting or tinting wood

After processing the wood with brushes, the finishing stage is carried out - covering the surface with paint, tinting composition, stain to increase decorativeness. Toning helps to enhance the contrast of the pattern and wood texture. The process is carried out with a brush or soft sponge.

The easiest way to paint brushed wood is with a stain, which quickly penetrates the remaining soft fibers and rather slowly penetrates the hard ones. Apply the composition generously to the surface and quickly remove excess to leave light areas with hard tissue. Wood with a gold or silver stain looks especially original, reflecting beautifully in the sun. You can also use the following techniques:

• painting recesses in a dark tone, and the ridges are light;
• top tier covering dark varnish, depressions - light;

During the tinting process, the “behavior” of wood fibers is monitored. If they rise strongly to the surface, additional sanding with fine-grain sandpaper will be required. Completely dried wood is varnished to preserve its presentable appearance for a long time and improve operational properties

. Brushing allows you to give an unusual and luxurious look to any wood product. Brushing at home is accessible to everyone and helps to significantly reduce the costs of construction, finishing and design work. Among modern finishing materials natural wood remains a relevant decorative element. Popular interior styles Provence, loft, colonial require that wooden elements

The furniture looked as if our grandmothers had used them. The paradox is that the older the tree looks, the more successful and noble the owner of such an office or living room appears.

What does the term wood brushing mean? In the natural environment, wood is gradually subject to mechanical wear, the surface texture changes unevenly, loose layers are washed away, while dense layers remain. The result is an aesthetic picture created by nature and time. But try to find it now wooden furniture

aged naturally. Masters resort to artificial aging technologies wooden surfaces . There is a word in English - "brush" brush, bristles.

It gave its name to the term brushing as one of the methods of aging furniture and interior items.

Brushing wood is one of the aging technologies that emphasizes the natural beauty and noble texture of the material.

How does the brushing procedure work?

The essence of the technique is quite simple: the surface is wetted chemical composition. Soft fibers absorb liquid. At the next stage, loose parts are selected with a stiff brush. Solid fibers remain, which form unique drawing. To enhance the effect, the surface is additionally treated with dye.

The result is an interesting stylized texture, with a slight touch of aristocracy and charm.

What tools and materials are needed for the job?

If you decide to age a buffet, chair or mantel yourself, then first prepare a set of tools. To use the brushing technique you will need:

• sandpaper of different grits (coarse-grained is suitable for roughing, fine-grained for final polishing of surfaces);
• two or three metal brushes of varying degrees of hardness;
• stain (to give individual elements additional decorativeness);
• paints for tinting;
• matte or glossy varnish for finishing.

For large volumes of work, a stripping milling machine is used, which automates most of the aging processes. Replaceable attachments allow you to perform grinding, polishing, and brushing in stages.

When made by hand, the product looks more aesthetically pleasing, it looks like a piece product.

How to age wood yourself

Brushing wood with your own hands is done in several stages. Typically the sequence of actions is as follows:

When tinted with ordinary stain, an interesting two-color texture is obtained.The composition is applied in a thick layer, the excess is quickly removed. Areas with soft fibers have time to dye, but hard layers do not have time to absorb the pigment and remain light.

7. After drying, the finishing stage begins: the workpiece is varnished.

This easy-to-use technique allows you to transform an ordinary interior into an elite, expensive, stylish one.

mantel, ceiling beams, headboards and sideboards made of aged wood will emphasize the taste of the owners.

Vintage rustic style will never go out of fashion, because its main component - wood - always speaks of quality, practicality and aesthetics.

You can create original objects from wood with a unique texture that will find a place in a room of any style with your own hands using brushing. This technique will not only artificially age the wood, change the shade and pattern, but also increase its performance characteristics.

Briefly about the technology

Name this process wood finishing comes from the English word “brush”, because it is with the help of this device with hard bristles made from metal or other similar tools, soft fibers are removed from the top layer.

The result is smooth surface with a pronounced relief of growth rings. In factory production, special machines with replaceable brushes are used.

The technology is similar to the rapid aging of wood, because time and environmental phenomena have this effect on wood unprotected by bark.

The resulting relief of the material is emphasized due to uneven coloring: the resulting depressions are covered with a dark color, and the rest of the surface with light shades.

To achieve maximum resemblance to ten years of natural aging, it is necessary to paint the discarded lumber in a grayish color, and then, without waiting for it to dry, wipe it with textiles. The use of silver or golden paint leaves traces in the depths of the grooves, which subsequently sparkle in the sun.

Benefits of brushing

The technique of artificial aging using a wire brush is one of the most popular methods of finishing wood. This was facilitated by the following advantages:

• Originality of wood pattern and texture;
• Increasing its strength, resistance to rotting, and the negative effects of pests and insects;
• Updating the appearance of the material without compromising its performance;
• Creation of imitation of exotic and expensive breeds;
• The possibility of personal processing, allowing you to make exclusive vintage items at home.

Suitable tree

The technology of relief structuring is most effective when working with loose species with clearly defined rings: oak, jatoba, pine, kempas, walnut, poplar, spruce, wenge, larch, doussia, merbau, ash.

This technique is not used for trees with a homogeneous trunk, fine-fiber structure, and the absence of clearly defined layers, as it is considered ineffective. Therefore, the artificial aging procedure is not suitable for alder, beech, willow, chestnut, pear, birch, linden, apple, cherry, teak, elm, aspen, cedar and maple.

Required Tools

Wood processing technology is actually simple and requires not only sufficient experience and skill, but the presence necessary tools. Among them following positions, which can be found from a neighbor or purchased at a hardware store:

• Kerosene burner for pre-firing and drying the material, removing soft structures and emphasizing the natural pattern;
• A hand brush with metal bristles, varying in width and length depending on the degree of its hardness, is used to remove soft fibers;
• A chisel is needed to apply deep horizontal curved stripes and create natural cracking in the rock;
• Sandpaper with different degrees of grain emphasizes the texture by marking clear boundaries fibers;
• A grinder with metal brush attachments, copper and sisal bristles or a special abrasive-polymer “Piranha” brush.

If it is possible to buy special machines for performing regular or large-volume work, then the most popular and high-quality of them are the Festool Rustofix Ras 180 grain milling machine, Makita 974 and Felisatti AGF grinders.

Step-by-step instruction

The technique of brushing wood is not difficult if you stock up on all the required tools, patience and strictly follow the step-by-step instructions:

• Prepare everything required;
• Moisten the wood piece with a small amount of water to prevent excessive dust formation;
• Select the hardness of the brush, checking the quality removal of soft fibers without disturbing hard structures;
• Carry out rough cutting by checking the tool;
• Get to work, guiding the brush only longitudinally, following the grain;
• Change the hard nozzle to a polymer one, which has a special coating with an abrasive layer;
• Remove soft wood residues and roughness from the surface;
• Carefully examine the resulting result. If the quality is not satisfactory, then repeat the steps;
• Structure the texture: deepen previously made grooves and grooves, add new cracks using a chisel;
• Polish the product with a sisal brush or small-grit sandpaper to obtain a perfectly flat and smooth surface;
• Dry and clean the wood from dust, dirt and sawdust;
• Decorate the workpiece by painting it with a golden or silver color;
• For expensive looking patina the layer by painting deep cracks with dark shades;
• Re-polish the wood;
• Wash, clean and dry the product thoroughly;
• Cover parquet varnish, characterized by greater wear resistance, strength and gloss.

There is also chemical method brushing, which requires certain knowledge in the field of chemicals: acids, alkalis, ammonia. Through the use of caustic agents, rapid erosion of soft fibers is achieved, the remains of which are subsequently removed with a brush.

Use in design

Most often, brushing is actively used in the interior and design for finishing flooring: floorboards, parquet, stair steps.

You can also add a vintage feel to furniture, massive beds, chests of drawers, shelving or shelf structures.

Clear annual rings, brightly grown contours, cracks and depressions are the result of brushing wood, which looks great in interiors, both in photographs and in real life.

Anyone can add special originality and luxury to wooden objects, the main thing is to stock up on everything you need and follow the recommendations.

Photo of wood brushing