Walnut Distressed Finish

Please be aware our finish can not be compared to the plastic looking finishes often seen on the high street which invariably are polyurethane based (which requires none of the processes listed below). Our distressed finish is a physical distress a very warm look that can withstand accidental damage and still appear brand new. Hotels in particular enjoy this finish for this very reason.

Our Walnut distressed finish process.

1. Sanded over 3 grades to 0000 wire wool stringently oil free.
2. Whipped in the raw using cat o' nine tail whip with random metal objects such as brass fittings, small padlocks, keys, nuts etc.
3. Scraped using glass or blades.
4. Stained accordingly for our Walnut finish.
5. Furniture grade Clay washed this fills the grain enabling even application of lacquers later in the process.
6. De nibbed with 0000 wire wool.
7. Wiped with thinner using washed cotton cloth to ensure there is no oil or silicone contamination.
8. Step 6 repeated.
9. Step 4 repeated.
10. Step 5 repeated.
11. Step 6 repeated.
12. First application of highest quality Japanese ("clearwater") Nippon nitrocellulose lacquer. This choice of lacquer is very important as cheap lacquers revealing an amber colour in the tin given 10 years or more can yellow and crack over time and give a slightly plastic look which you don't want!
13. Allowed to harden fully over 24 hrs, wiped with thinner using washed cotton cloth to ensure there is no oil or silicone contamination.
14. Whipped using cat o' nine tail whip with random metal objects such as brass fittings, small padlocks, keys, nuts etc.
15. Scraped using glass or blades.
16. Dark antique scrumble stain brushed on and then cleaned off it then sits in the stress marks from the cat o'nine tail and scraping.
17. Step 12 & 13 repeated.
18. Step 14, 15, & 16 repeated.
19. Step 12 & 13 repeated.
20. Step 14, 15, 16 repeated.
21. Step 12 repeated with final colour correction requiring a keen eye and judgment then step 13.
22. Polish with rottenstone suspended fine particle liquid abrasive using wool or cotton pads lubricated further with water.
23. Left for 5 days to fully harden before foam and card protection.

This is a total of 30 steps taking a total time of 15 days.

This finish gives depth and clarity to the grain and character for which Swietenia strain Mahogany is regarded over all others. In your home even with the distressed finish you will see on a repeated basis different grain and character under different light conditions.Its this sort of character that the highest quality wax finish regardless of number of applications and time taken is incapable of repeating.