Antiquing Pine

Sand the pine with 60-grit sandpaper to smooth the wood surface and remove imperfections. Add the sandpaper to an orbital sand to speed the process. Fill holes, gaps and cracks with wood filler, and allow it to set for one hour prior to proceeding.

Sand the pine a final time with 120-grit sandpaper before painting. Level out the wood filler and smooth the pine further. Sand in circular motions rather than straight across the pine grain.

Wipe the pine down with a damp cotton rag to remove dust and debris from the surface. Don't saturate the wood with the rag because this will raise the wood grain, requiring resanding of the surface.

Mix the base coat of milk paint -- a powdered paint -- in a 1-gallon bucket. Follow the mixing instructions on the paint bag.

Paint on two coats of base coat, allowing 30 minutes to one hour drying time between coats. Use a fine-bristled brush for painting. Paint along the length of the wood grains rather than across the grains.

Allow the base coat to fully dry for two hours after the final coat has been applied. Mix the top coat in a clean 1-gallon bucket. As with the base coat, follow the directions on the milk paint bag. Blend the paint with a food blender.

Paint on two coats of top coat milk paint, allowing only 15 minutes drying time between coats. Paint in the direction of the wood grain. After the second coat has been applied and has set for 15 minutes, wipe away various areas of the top coat, exposing the base coat. Gently dab the paint away at knobs, handles, corners and edges and various other locations where normal wear might have occurred over the years. Feather the paint edges so that it appears worn.

Allow the top coat to dry completely for two hours after the final coat has been applied and distressed. Wipe the dry paint down with #0000 steel wool to remove brush marks. Wipe over the surface of the paint with a damp cloth to remove dust and debris. Apply two coats of organic sealer (matte) to the finished surface. Paint on the sealer with a fine-bristled brush. Purchase the sealer from the milk paint dealer. Allow 30 minutes drying time between coats and two hours drying time after the final coat.