How to Crackle Paint a Table

The crackle paint technique lets you add an aged effect to a piece of furniture, such as a table, by creating cracks in the paint that replicate natural wear. To make your crackle paint job successful, select two separate paint colors that are contrasting in nature. Using one light and one dark shade of paint in your project will make the crackle effect more dramatic. If you are painting a wooden table without any previous paint, you'll want to protect it with sealer before you begin.

Cloth
Sandpaper
Paint brush
Paint
Crackle glaze

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare your table for painting by wiping it down with a damp cloth. Use a gentle household cleaner to get rid of any stains left by spilled beverages or other accidents. Allow your table to air dry, or wipe it down with a lint-free cloth. If your table was already painted, you may want to lightly sand it to texturize the surface so the new paint will stick and then wipe away the dust.
- 2
  Apply a base coat of paint. Use a roller to cover the table top and a smaller brush to paint the legs or any decorative cut outs, when applicable. Allow your base coat to dry for a minimum of 12 hours.
- 3
  Add the crackle glaze to the table using a clean brush. Apply the glaze in even strokes, always moving in the same direction. The thicker you apply the glaze to your table, the larger the cracks will be when the project is finished. For obvious cracks, add a thick coat of the glaze. Let the glaze dry for at least one hour.
- 4
  Apply the second paint color on top of the glaze. Work in the opposite direction as you did when you applied the glaze. The crackle effect will begin to appear shortly.
- 5
  Let your table dry completely before you return it to regular use, at least 12 hours.

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