How to Remove Paint & Primer to Make a Weathered Wood Finish

Sandpaper

• Sanding is one of the easiest ways to achieve a weathered wood finish on an already painted and primed surface. By using a piece of sandpaper to gently scrub the painted item, you’ll remove areas of the paint to give the surface a distressed look that mimics natural wear and tear. The grade of sandpaper and sanding technique used determine the amount of distress the painted surface takes on; but for most projects, opt for 100- to 200-grit sandpaper to avoid taking off too much of the paint. For the most realistic-looking weathered finish, sand the areas where wear and tear would naturally occur the heaviest, such as the edges of tables and drawers; table and chair legs; and cabinet handles, pulls and knobs.

Wire Brush

• While sanding may be the most common way to create a weathered finish for a painted wooden item, you can also remove some paint and primer from your surface with a wire brush. Running the brush over certain areas of the surface will scrape off the paint and reveal the wood underneath. However, unlike sanding, using a wire brush to remove the paint can create visible scratches and gouges in the wood. If you want a truly distressed finish, this technique is ideal. You can also scrape nails across your painted surface to remove some of the paint and primer for a worn, weathered look.

Rags

• If you are painting an unfinished wooden item, you can give it a weathered finish by using a rag to remove some of the paint. Start by painting your surface with a primer and base coat in your chosen color. Next, combine a second paint shade and glaze and apply it over the base coat. While the glaze is still wet, use a bunched up rag to wipe off some of the paint/glaze mixture. The weathered finish that you achieve is largely determined by the amount of pressure that you use as you wipe the rag across the surface, so it’s best to be somewhat inconsistent for the most natural look. You can use a variety of materials for a rag, including cotton, gauze, cheesecloth and burlap. Even tissue paper can work.

Solvents

• Solvents are another way to remove paint and primer from a wooden surface for a weathered finish during the painting process. Known as cissing, the technique calls for layering several different-color glazes on the surface. While the glazes are still wet, splash the solvent across the surface so the glaze is removed in certain areas. A mottled, weathered look becomes apparent as the various colors of glaze are revealed. If you are using an oil-based glaze, use mineral spirits as your solvent. If you use latex glaze, plain water will work.