Antiquing Pickled Oak Cabinets

Remove all items from the oak cabinets as well as any nearby objects, because the antiquing and distressing process could break them. Remove any cabinet hardware using a screwdriver, and place it in a plastic sandwich bag for safekeeping.

Don heavy work gloves and locate a metal chain that is at least 2 to 3 feet long. Fold it in half and grasp the end of the chain firmly. Hit the cabinets firmly with the other end of the chain in random locations to create dents. If desired, you can also fill a sock with nuts and bolts and perform the same hitting technique.

Pick up an awl or an icepick and grip the handle firmly. Hit the surface of the cabinets repeatedly in random locations to create small holes in the surface, which are called wormholes.

Add cracks to the surface of the oak cabinets by holding the awl perpendicular to the surface and pressing down firmly. Drag the awl the length of the desired crack, lightening the pressure as you do so.

Sand all surfaces of the cabinets using 200-grit sandpaper to remove any splinters and sharp edges.

Open a can of white or cream-colored, water-based paint and pour it into a 5-gallon bucket. Dilute the paint by 25 percent using water, and stir the mixture well using a paint stirrer.

Lay tarps over the floor surface to protect it. Apply the pickled stain to the surface of the cabinets liberally, using a paintbrush and working the pickle into all of the depressions and dents.

Set the paintbrush aside, and wipe the entire surface of the oak cabinets with a clean rag to remove most of the stain.

Wait until the pickling paint dries completely and replace all items inside the cabinets and replace any hardware.