How to Use a Wood Graining Tool

I love using this tool.  It just makes painting more fun.  There are a few different types out there, but this is the one I use.  It actually looks like this with a handle, but I found the handle … well … hard to handle. So I use mine without.

What you’ll need:

Wood Graining Tool

Base color

Glaze mixed with color

Brush for painting on glaze

Dry brush

Damp cloth and a dry cloth

For demonstration purposes I’m going to use a melamine-coated particle board piece.

First put your base color on.  (This is of course after you have prepped your piece, primed it and prepared it for its base coat.)  I used black,  because it seems to be the only color I have at the moment.

I used some white glaze mixed from clear glazing liquid and white paint at a ratio of 4:1.  (This glaze actually has water added to it from a previous project which is why it appears thinner).

You can either wipe down your glaze with a cloth or run through it with a dry brush.

On both edges of the wood graining tool there are teeth.  One edge has fine teeth and the other irregular larger teeth.

Drag the teeth down all of the glazed surfaces. Usually I use the side with the finer teeth, but a mixture of both works really well.

Here is why I like the tool without the handle… I can get my fingers in the holes and I’m able to have much more control of the tool.

Start at the edge with the tool in this position.

Start dragging the tool while rocking it at the same time. The more you rock the tool the more knots you will make, so make sure not to overdo it.

Be careful not to slide sideways! (It’s hard taking pics with one hand and doing this with the other). If you make a mistake re-glaze and drag again.

I’ve added a LOT of grain to this board just for this tutorial.  But I have to stress NOT to add too much to your piece.  Of course the wonderful thing about using glaze is how long it takes to dry.  If you think you’ve done too much, paint over some of it with your brush and drag your tool again.

When you think you have it just right, let your glaze begin to dry slightly then drag a dry brush very lightly over some of the grain to soften the look.  You’re just going to want to pull the glaze a bit. When dry finish with the protective finish of your choice. 

Again, this board has LOTS of grain for demonstration purposes. When actually using this tool, less is best.

So your piece might start off something like this..

..and end up something like this.

The wood graining tool was used in these two Recaptured Charm projects.

The Viridian Green Desk seen HERE

Beachy Entry Tables seen HERE

Give it a try !

Thanks for reading

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