How to Create a Driftwood Finish

by Living Rich on Less - Susan

For the master bathroom renovation project I'm working on, I'm DIYing my own mirror frame in the driftwood finish that is so popular right now. I did some research and figured out how to replicate it inexpensively. Check out the full blog post for all the deets but here's a summary ...

how to create a driftwood finish, painting, woodworking projects

I started with unfinished pine boards purchased at Lowe's. I bought the rougher, knotty, cabin-grade boards for two reasons: They were cheaper and they had more character. To age the wood like driftwood, I used a bowl of vinegar and added a steel wool pad to it. I let this concoction sit for about 24 hours before using it. Letting it sit longer will produce darker results.

Then I applied the rusty vinegar/steel wool liquid to my boards. It brought out the grain and added an aged look to the wood. There are a few other methods you can use to do this, too. Check out the blog post for a link to all of them.

Here's a peek at a few pieces that have received the vinegar/steel wool wash. Different wood species will react differently. For example, using this method on oak may produce a deeper, more intense result.

After the wash dried, I applied a layer of liming wax to give the wood that gray, pickled effect of driftwood. It worked perfectly! This is one of my new favorite products. I couldn't find it anywhere in a local store, though. I had to purchase it via eBay.

Here's a peek at the wood after applying the liming wax. Stay tuned for a reveal of the new mirror frame coming soon!

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 11 comments

Sheryll S on Apr 30, 2014
I guess you have different Pine in PA. Beause when I did this to my cheap Pine I bought at Lowe's for my headboard, the vinegar & steel wool turned mine a ugly orange, which I definitely did not plan on...... lol. I then tried Minwax English Chestnut to see and it was okay, just NOT what I wanted either..... so then I ended up using paint to white wash it. A large waste of my time. When I want weathered gray again I will just buy the stain instead.

1 Reply
- Living Rich on Less - Susan on Apr 30, 2014
  @Sheryll S Hmmm. It could have something to do with a large vs. small surface. Also, I didn't let my concoction "cook" very long before I applied it. It was pretty weak. Maybe that's the trick. The liming wax should forgive any orange-y tones that result, I think.
  
  1
Sheryll S on May 15, 2014
Oh okay, will try this again then...... yes, I let my vinegar and 0000 steel wool wait for at least a day....... hummm, thank you for this idea. I definitely have some scrapes left over to practice on once again..... grin........ after all ....... life is a wonderful adventure and I am here and ready. Thanks so much again for the advice tip.

1 Reply