Creating driftwood finish in tanalith timber

Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by yorkyguy, May 28, 2017.

  1. yorkyguy

    yorkyguy Active Member

    Hi all, I'm creating a 'coastal garden' and would like to 'age' new tanalith sleeper to create a bleached driftwood appearance for a sleeper path. A number of writers recommend dissolving 0000 steel wool in white vinegar and applying to the rough timber. I could buy authentic concrete timberstone slabs but the price is eye wateringly expensive - twice the price of authentic stone and about 4 or 5 times that of new timber! Old railway sleepers are a no no because of the nasty stuff that they contain - creosote is not pleasant! any thought out there? cheers
     
  2. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    One on the problems you have is that tanalith-e doesn't react with that solution.

    Anyform of pine is very low in tannin and doesn't react so well. What you can try is sanding off a small section of the greenish coating and then soak the area with a strong tea solution. The strong tea increases the level of tannin in the wood. I use iron sulphate solution on top of the tea to get that grey look. However, it can be achieved with a watered down wood stain.

    To get the deep grain effect of weathered wood, you need a wire cup brush in a power drill and run that up and down with the grain.
     
  3. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    Brass wire brush gives a good effect, not so harsh as a steel wire brush.
     
  4. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    Think he wants the harsh effect - its quite fashionable now, especially on pinterest and etsy.
     
    KIAB likes this.
  5. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    Experiment.:eek:
     
  6. yorkyguy

    yorkyguy Active Member

    Cheers for this. Yes, I (my wife) want(s) the really harsh, gnarled, bleached/grey +effect - Timberstone do a 625 'plank' but its about £13+ and I need lots. Railway sleepers are getting a real thumbs down because of their carcinogenetic properties so I'm really scratching my head. Done plenty of interior 'ageing' but not like this which has to be durable. Any suggestions welcome. :)
     
  7. chippie244

    chippie244 Super Member

    Tanalith only goes a few millimetres into the surface of the wood so if you age it too much you are down to the untreated softwood.
    You can get hardwood sleepers that aren't creosoted.
    A sawmill might knock up some Larch sleepers for you which you could sand blast and they age grey.
     
    GoodwithWood likes this.
  8. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    Have a look at using old scaffold boards, should be cheaper and already distressed
     
  9. GoodwithWood

    GoodwithWood Active Member

    Another vote for sandblasting.
     
  10. wiggy

    wiggy Screwfix Select

  11. yorkyguy

    yorkyguy Active Member

    Got about 50 meters of 8x4!!
     
  12. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

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