Want to give your wooden furniture a second life? White lead is the ideal technique. It gives them a chic and luminous appearance. Discover all the techniques to successfully complete your work.
Did you know that wood has veins? Depending on the species, these will be more or less marked. This is particularly the case with species with large and open pores, such as ash or oak, which also have the advantage of having a harmonious grain and veining. It is of course possible to work the softwoods, but in this case, it is necessary to open their pores.
The objective of a white lead is to mark and bring out these veins by digging them, and then filling them with a specific product, white lead. In addition to furniture, joinery, paneling, frames and other wooden objects can also be limed.
For history, this technique was born in the 16th century in Europe. At the time, slaked lime was used as a wood protection. Lead white was also popular, except that these products are now banned due to their high toxicity. On the other hand, with the current white lead, nothing to fear since it is only composed of natural pigments and wax.
For the operation to be a success, it is necessary to prepare the support. If it's waxed furniture, use a waxer to bare the surface. Complete with sanding, dusting and wet cleaning.
In the case of furniture with varnish or stain, you will have to go through the essential step of sanding first with a coarse grain then with a fine grain to finish. Dust and clean.
Note that for this work, you can choose to paint your furniture before applying white lead, or do it directly on the raw surface.
If you lean towards the first solution, preferably opt for a special water-based wood paint. It is rather light and will not hide the grain of the wood. Use a cotton wick to put it on. Then after drying, sanding with a fine grain is necessary.
Equip yourself with a special ceruse brush then dig the veins. Dust with a vacuum cleaner and clean lightly with a damp cloth or sponge. You can now apply white lead wax using a cotton wick, for example. Don't be heavy handed on quantity. Work the moldings, facades, doors and edges of the furniture well and always make circular gestures to better bring out the grain. Remove excess product with a cloth. After that, a drying time of two days is required.
Finish the work by making the finishes. A sanding job will still have to be done for an optimal result. Use steel wool and work in circular motions. Remove the dust and protect the furniture with a hard bottom or a colorless wax. Polish to finish.
