Expert: Jamie Yocono - 11/7/2009

Question
My son is building a coffee table for me in shop class.  I told him I liked the distressed look (marks and dents in the wood).  How is this look achieved?  Should he make marks with a hammer and nail, a wood file?  Should he do it before or after the stain is applied?  I am guessing before so that when the stain is applied it holds in the dents for a darker look.  Help ... not sure what to tell him. If this is a hard thing to do, maybe he shouldn't try it.
Thanks for any information you have to offer.  

Answer
Sharon,

There are a lot of ways to distress furniture, but one of the easiest ways I've done it is to fill an old tube sock with various nails, screws, old nuts and bolts, anything that will make a mark if banged into the wood.

I usually tie a knot in the sock, and then swing it randomly over the piece I want to distress. You'll get a feel for it after a couple of hits. You may want to double up that sock, as I've had them break open.

He should distress the table before finishing, just for the reason you mentioned. This allows the stain to absorb differently into the dents and cuts. The stain will really highlight everything.

It's very easy - I recommend doing your first initial whack of that sock on the underside of the tabletop, so you get a feel for how hard to swing it. It's pretty hard to mess up!

Good luck! This is also a good way to get work out some of your aggressions! :)

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com