Marbling finish for wood

[fred55]

Just been to the Harrogate show and was really impressed with the marbelling finish by one of the exhibitors. So off to the shops bought some acrylic paints - filled a container with water; next tried to float the slightly watered down paint on the surface ! and of course it sank ! - don't know why I was surprised it is water based. So off to youtube see how they do it - some fantastic work ! look at the links where they colour guitars realy good ; QUESTION what is the medium they float the paints on. I spent two hours and only thing I learnt was how to marble my nails should I wish.

 

[bugbear]

I'll do a quick search later, but I would expect it to be oil based colourants floating on water.

Did none of the videos show technique?

EDIT; here's how it was done in 1829:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1eh ... er&f=false

Unless you mean a marble paint effect, which is a quite different thing, coming under the heading
of "graining".

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

Here's a guy marbling a strat body;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3dm-FzI-EQ

Here's a video from American Woodworker entitled "Marbling Wood"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m43OCJdjIo

BugBear

 

[fred55]

Thanks bugbear - you are right the paints are oil based. It must be the Yorkshire in me thought the cheap acrylic was the same. Just tried a small kit bought from the show (brian clegg from Manchester) and it does float gives some good vivid colours on the wife's clothes pegs.

 

[AndyT]

Just tried a small kit bought from the show (brian clegg from Manchester) and it does float gives some good vivid colours on the wife's clothes pegs.

Now you've practised, are you going to do your own clothes pegs as well? :lol:

 

[Kalimna]

I think you need borax dissolved in the water to give a good effect.

Adam

 

[fred55]

Thanks for that Andy - I always look good hanging out the washing with marbelled nails and fancy pegs and no photos will not be released. Maybe a good idea for the woman in your life - Christmas surprise present - a set of marblled pegs; I wonder if any body else has thought of that. Now to look up borax.

 

[NazNomad]

As above, all the demos I've watched online have included Borax in the mix for it to work well.