How to distress a cedar beam?

[SteveO]

I remodeled my home about 5 years ago and kept the cedar beams that ran across the ceiling. I'm thinking of turning one into a fireplace mantel. I'd like to distress it so it looks a lot like this one:
http://www.fireplacemantels.com/mantel-s...lshelf.cfm

How to do this? Drag it behind my car on a gravel road? Any idea how long should this take? Am I even in the ballpark on how to do this? I don't really have any woodworking tools except a Skil Saw. TIA.

[mikebw]

I'm sure there are some number of resources for that, and since I have never done it myself allow me to advise you-

After cutting the shape you want apply some stain to the whole thing, darker than you really want. Then sand the whole thing a little. This will remove a lot of the darker color, leaving only what is in the deeper pits of the wood. Then apply a lighter stain. That's what I would try anyway.

[Mike Johnson]

I'd go at it with a big old knife, carving it down to be less than rectangular. Then I'd use a small plane to smooth it out a bit. I might hit it with a length of chain in a couple of places, and maybe make a couple light passes with a blow torch. Then I'd stain it and oil it and wax it with two different waxes, one clear or amber, the other a black patinating wax.

If instead you want a rough surface, get a couple handfuls of course sand, spread it out on the wood, and use a sanding block (with 60 grit paper) in the direction of the grain. That will tear the surface up in short order.

Edit: I just saw how expensive black patinating wax is -- you can make some yourself instead http://chestofbooks.com/crafts/popular-m...k-Wax.html

[anonymouse1]

Tell it it's really knotty pine?

[SteveO]

anonymouse1 wrote:
Tell it it's really knotty pine?

LOL. That was pretty good.

Thanks for the tips, all. Keep 'em comin'!

[MikeF]

Blow torch and wire brush. The fire will blacken it and the wire brush will remove most of the "lower" soft wood leaving the darkened grain raised higher than the remainder of the surface. If you have multiple beams, one can be a guinea pig (sorry PeterB)...

[DaviDC.]

Beat it with a chain!

[rgG]

DaviDC. wrote:
Beat it with a chain!

Yep, beat it with a chain, hit it with a hatchet, let loose on it with a hammer or whatever else you have lying around to give it some good dings and dents. If you lived closer I would be glad to help you out by taking out my frustrations on it for you.

I used to do faux finishing for a living, and the best advice I can give is do lots of layers. Stain it the basic color you want, if you are going to stain it, then play around with some other colors by wiping them on in places. You can then sand it back to show what is underneath and such. Remember that the older something gets, the smoother and rounder it usually is, from use, so try and soften the edges. You don't want any sharp corners. Just have fun with it. You can always sand or stain over anything you don't like. Rubbing a little plain old dirt into the surface can also make it look more authentic. Obviously you want to wipe off anything loose, but old stuff has dirt down in the cracks and crevices. Good luck.

[richorlin]

How to distress a cedar beam?
Drive a six inch nail into the beam next to it.

[Carm]

Use a sharp knife to carve pieces out of it. Fire(plumbers torch), chain, wirebrush, etc..