So, here's the thing….
The
homeowners of a new build cottage asked for their fireplace mantel to be an old
beam. Not only was I searching for a rather large specimen, I also wanted a
good quality beam with hand hewed details and character. The fireplace was the
focal point of their cottage – it needed to match my criteria and not cost an
arm and a leg. My search proved
fruitless and pricy – so, knowing I could do better - I did the next best thing, I created! I purchased a 10’ x 8” rough beam from a local lumber mill for $20.00.
DISTRESSING
With a draw blade I shaved off the edges giving it the hand hewed details I was looking for. I attached the beam with a chain to the back of my truck and drug it up and
down a gravel road a few times to add bumps and dents – to further age the
appearance and give it character.
SANDING
Back
in the workshop I used my trusty orbital sander and a 150 grit to remove any
pieces that would cause splinters and then followed up with 220 grit paper to
smoothen it out. I didn’t use a higher grit paper as I wanted to maintain the appearance of an old beam.
STAINING
I
treated the beam with a coat of Prestain Wood Conditioner from Minwax. This penetrates the grain of the wood to promote uniform acceptance of the stain. Without it you may end up with
streaks and blotches from where you started and stopped applying the stain.
I always recommend treating any raw surface before staining. We chose Minwax Early American and Natural stains. The first coat was a mixture of ¾ Early American to ¼ Natural. I used a chip brush for this project to ensure the stain soaked into all of the crevices, let it sit for 20 minutes and wiped off the excess. Once the beam was installed and the rock work completed, I applied two more coats of straight Early American, allowing each coat to penetrate for a few minutes followed by wiping off the excess with a cotton rag. If you want to retain the color you have achieved on your wood I recommend a coat of polyurethane. The home owners for this mantel chose not to do this so the beam will darken over time.
Here's are some before and after pictures of the beautiful, rustic mantel piece.
Installed using brackets |
Final coat of Early American stain |
Fabulous! |
"Believe you can and you're half way there!" - Theodore Roosevelt
Tomorrow I will show how I turned an old bench into a "sofa" for two little fur babies.
Please let me know if I can answer any questions about products used on this project. I’d love to share them with you. Do you have a renovation project or can't find what you are looking for? Send me a picture/description and I will provide a free consultation for you!
Until next time – Live Simply!
Mary Elizabeth