Paint question

[al]

I originally wanted to rub down, stain & varnish my banisters. However the paint had soaked too far into the grain to bother and some chunks out of it needed repairing with filler, which would never stain properly. I therefore just undercoated it in readiness to gloss with the rest of the staircase in white.

However, I got thinking that it may look better with a dark gloss paint instead. Had a quick look around and can't find what I want, though I'm sure such a thing exists. I want a dark, wood-effect paint with a high gloss.

Any ideas?

a

[John]

They used to do something in the 1920's-30's as a cheapo way to emulate wood grain and you could still see remains of it about when I were a lad up int' north. I can't remember what the process is called but you paint dark brown gloss first, then when it's dry, light brown on top. While the light colour is still wet, cut through with a comb to expose the dark colour underneath and give a wood grain effect. Or maybe it was the other way round.

There's probably a large element of skill involved in getting this to look right.

john

[Rob Morley]

Paint it with a lighter red/yellow/brown colour then apply a dark scumble glaze and texture it to get the wood-grain effect. Finish with two or three coats of varnish. Or if you want more of a candy effect maybe paint it white then apply a couple of coats of tinted varnish?

[Rob Morley]

You can get a textured rubber block - you rock it while dragging across the glaze to get a varied grain effect. In the old days I think they used to use brushes and combs and it required more skill.

[Jeff]

They do this kit at b&q, was in a warehouse store yesterday and they had a display up explaining techniques

My father has done this on windows etc over the years and if done properly it is very very good

Regards Jeff

[al]

All the ideas sound plausible ... though I don't know how well I'd do the grain combing bit. Might pop down to a specialist paint store and see what they have to suggest or if they can demonstrate.

a