Aging and Bleaching Walnut
Quick tip on giving Walnut a driftwood-gray aged appearance while preserving the grain. November 29, 2014
Question (WOODWEB Member) :
I’m sure many will consider this sacrilege, but I'd like to bleach and then grey (age) some black walnut. I want the wonderful grain of the wood, but want a middle grey when finished. I am about to start experimenting with a two part wood bleach, and then a vinegar plus steel wool solution. The table will be finished with tung oil.
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor R:
Why not use butternut? Same grain and figure and it will save you a lot of work.
From the original questioner:
The piece is already built. I built two tables, and had a change of heart regarding one of them.
From contributor G:
Walnut can turn greenish when you use the two part bleach. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. You can always sand it back if it does.
From contributor N:
I have done this (the driftwood grey look seems to be one of the more popular looks in my neck of the woods lately). I use Daly's two component wood bleach, then make a stain mixing white and touch of black to reach the grey the customer has in mind, top it off with a flat CV and viola it looks like it spent five years laying in the sand and sun after spending two years floating in the sea.
