Stain

What type of stain do you folks use to antique your carvings I currently use a gel stain golden oak thats ok, but want to try something else.

[Ric]

Hi Mel
I have tried a number of finishes over the years and some work better than others. The one I like to use for my Santa's is paste shoe polish. Here is a link to a good article regarding your question. Hope it helps.
Cheers
Ric
http://wwwoodcarver.com/Articles/SSWFinishMethod.pdf

[Kenny_S]

I have used Johnson paste floor wax for years but after apply the stain or paint. Interesting as the sealer tents to darken a carving slightly. I find it gives a softer look and not a plastic look like most Polys give.

Thanks Ric for the link to Judt's site. He has been around a long time and probably has tried just about everything.

[owlhause]

Mel,
I've tried a lot of different antiquing methods.
I came up with one that I really like and stayed with...it takes a little mixing but for me its worth it.
I start with a quart of 'Minwax Antique Oil Finish' you can find it at 'Menards' or a larger paint store ( it comes in a red can)
I then mix in about 3/4 of a LARGE tube of burnt umber artists oil paint (you may want to start with less...I like a pretty dark antique finish) you have to mix really well to get the thick oil paint to dissolve completely.
It has a satin look when it dries (usualy over night)
If you use acrylics to paint your santas with it almost makes it look like you painted them in oils.
If you can't find the minwax product you can substitute boiled linseed oil thinned down a little with mineral spirits. If you do, you may want to add a small bottle of 'japan drier' (you can get this at the art supply store you buy the oil paint at) as the linseed oil is slow to dry.
Anyway, thats what I use

Thanks guys, Ric you said you used paste shoe polish, is it a brown shoe polish? Or is there certain colors that work better. I'll experiment with these and see which one works best for me. :

[Ric]

Mel:
I have a variety of polishes that I use. A brown polish will add the antique look and really brings out the accents of your carving. The problem with brown is it really darkens the flesh color on the face so I have been using a nutural color on the face, and the brown on the rest of the carving. I have several carving with this finish that are several years old and it holds up well. I have also used the approach on relief carvings with great success for accent on light oak. Most of my relief work is left natural for obvious reasons, however I treat them with a mixture of bees wax and turpentine, several coats and buff out with a stiff brush. This gives a finish that is eye pleasing, feels good to the touch and takes years of repeated dusting. Give the shoe polish a try however, I think you will be pleased with the results.
Cheers
Ric

Boiled linseed oil in a pint jar and 1/2' of Burnt umber from a tube. Mix well, brush on and wipe off. To eliminate the odor, spray with sealer, final waxing is optional. Big Al

The odor from BLO will leave as soon as it fully cures.

Good Luck Ken in So Cal

[Colin-Partridge]

Mel,
Someone on this board some weeks ago advised me to use shoe polish to stain one of my woodspirits. I did so with a mahogany polish. I am so please with the results that I think that from now on on the smaller carvings I will use this method. I am not sure how it will hold up outside as that where most of my carving end up, in peoples gardens what I intend to do is to do one and leave it for the summer and see what happens. What I do is use two shoe brushes with one I take the shoe polish and mix it on a piece of plastic first then apply it very sparingly at first with the one brush getting heavier as I go. With the second brush I buff it until I achieve the gloss that I want. I cant believe the beauty it brings out in the grain.
Colin

[Callynne]

I have been using Antiquing Medium by FolkArt, it's a little two ounce bottle sold with craft acrylic paints at Wal-Mart, JoAnn Fabrics, etc. It's nice because it's water soluable and you can wash some off where you get it too dark.
I tried the shoe polish first, I used brown but not the right one because it turned anything white yellow, Santa looked a bit scary...not to mention ill!!
Lots of people use the shoe polish method though so I really think it was the brand I used that wasn't right.
I'm very interested in the other approaches mentioned here. Especially the one with Minwax, just might have to try it. That is all you have to do, no sealing it with spray sealer or anything right?
Do you always spray the linseed formula finish after it's dry? Do you brush on and wipe off these antiquing solutions or do you dip the piece (if small enough, of course!) into a 'vat' of it, then wipe off? Questions, questions, nice to know where to look for answers! Callynne