'Blacken' Orange-Tone Wood

A shortcut to refinishing furniture that has turned orange...

Most woods turn a little "orange" over time.

I, personally, prefer a  brown or black tone.

A few years ago I bought this bench for $7. I meant to redo it a lot sooner than now. I used my pressure washer to clean it

 You can ruin a nice piece of furniture with a pressure washer so be careful of the nozzle setting. I took some of the shiney finish off of my inexpensive bench during the spray - fine with me.

To {blacken} the wood I gave the whole thing a little sand down with my orbital hand sander with 120 grit sand paper. I dipped my sponge brush in water - then in black chalkboard paint - applied the watered down chalkboard paint over the bench a little at a time - working with the natural grain of the wood. Then wiped each stroke of paint off with a paper towel. That paint dries quickly - especially when it is so thin and in the bright sun.

Once I got the amount of black on my bench that I liked - I covered it with a thin coat of black walnut stain.

Don't forget to wipe the stain into the wood and remove any excess. The wood will only 'drink' so much.

My $7  bench was perfect for this paint technique because the top is a  rough & chunky log piece. The blackening accentuated the grain in the wood and makes it look more rustic.

Once the stain dried I covered it in clear wax.

A quick morning project that was dry by evening.

Blackening leaves a variation in the wood colors because the under coat is not completely removed as would be done fore a full refinish. Can you see the difference?

Much Better!

Now if I can just find a way to keep Mazi looking fresh.
Her hair is more 'high maintenance' than mine.

Sharing with: The Brambleberry Cottage, Common Ground, Funky Junk Interiors, Stone Gable