Antique white finish with wash off technique.

Antique white finish is the white finish with old, dirty and antique looked. The antique impression is enhanced by rubbed off the paint at the edges to  the distressed and ware of the paint. The antique white finishing is needed when the antique and country furniture style is made.

antique white finish

There are some technique can be used to make antique white finish such as wash off, rubbed off, distress etc. In previous articles i have share the antique white finish by sand through technique (see our previous article: antique white finish). 

In this article i used a wash off technique to remove the paint layer to make antique effect. The finishing looked resulted is very similar with the rub off finish; an antique finish with paint layer is removed in some parts. But since the removal of the paint is done by washed off with thinner then the antique impression is little bit different.

The paint highlight resulting usually is more soft and natural looked then the sand off technique. The paint wipe off with thinner does not leave the sanding mark as the sandpaper does.

The finishing process in here is done by using NC type finishing materials. Base coat, sealer and top coat that are used are the NC type. The finishing material that is drying with reaction such as PU or AC cannot be used for this finish, because those are thermosetting material that are not resolved with thinner

Here is the finishing step by step:

• Physical distress

Physical distress is made to add the antique impression. In finishing, I used nail to make wormhole, chains and rock to make damage impression caused by bump. Sand the wood surface to subtilize the roughness caused by the physical distress.

• Base coat application

Apply the base coat by spray to coat the entire surface evenly. Make sure that the base coat layers the overall surface evenly. Two or three layer coat is needed to make sure the paint cover overall surface evenly. 

Let the base coat to dry for few minutes. Then soak a cloth in paint thinner, and then wipe  the dampened cloth to remove the base coat layer on certain parts. The wiped off the base coat need to be done properly. It is the highlight process to show the wood and form the antique impression. This technique is similar with the rub off the finish, but the wipe off the paint layer is done with thinner. The highlight of the base coat will determine the appearance of the resulting finish. The antique finishing resulted is mainly depend on the highlight looked of the white paint. How the paint is wiped off and how much the highlight is, are the crucial thing to make a good finish.

Consider the form and model of the furniture in the highlighting process, make the paint off looked natural because of the uses. The highlight resulted should look balanced and should naturally looked, as if the paint wears since the age and usage.

Do a check on the appearance of the highlighting appearance after doing the wipe off process. Make sure a natural and well balanced highlighted paint is obtained. Then do a scuff sanding to subtilize the rough surface caused by the wash off process.

• Application of sealer.

The sealer application is needed to protect the highlighted base coat. Spray 1 wet coat sealer evenly to the entire surface layer of sealer. Wait for about 30 minutes to let the sealer dry before go to the next process. You can continue apply the glaze on the next step without sanding the sealer.

• Application of glaze

Glaze is applied to produce more lively and antique finishing appearance. Brush glaze on the surface evenly and then do the highlights and let it dry. You can continue with other antiquing process such as dry brush, cow tail or spattering if needed.

• The second sealer application.

The second sealer is applied protect the finishing appearance underneath that has been obtained and also to prepare a smooth surface before top coat application. Spray wet coat or sealer coat evenly to the entire surface. Wait until it dry and then sand the sealer. A good sanding is needed to make a smooth surface before the top coat application.

• Application of top coat.

The top coat application as the final step is purposed to make a protection to the finishing resulted, to make gloss of the finish and to make smooth surface on the finish. Spray the top coat evenly to overall surface. Use the low or semi gloss sheen non yellowing top coat.