HI i have a question? i have some white crates that i would like to make look like pine. what would be a good way to paint these crates. any help would be appreciated. thanks ED.
How old of wood? Most cut woods turn grey as they age and weather. Also, what are the crates made of? Would a wood stain work?
Pine has some different colors depending on the type but most pine ranges from a pale honey yellow to a slightly orange tinted yellow. So I would think a good base coat of a light color approximating the pine color followed by a light dry brushing of some darker color would probably capture the effect. There are a number of wood colors available in most hobby suppliers that can give a wood tone although they may need a light base coat over the white plastic for them to cover adequately in one coat. Also since most crates and pallets are made from rough cut wood roughing them up using a sanding stick in one direction or dragging a fine tooth razor saw over it, again in one direction, will give some texture.
Does floquill still make solvent paints? If so they made some really nice wood stains. If the crates are made of wood, you shoulld be able to stain them lightly and get the job done. Most packing crates were made of new wood of poor quality, so some cracks and knotholes might be good, too.
Just thinking out loud (via my fingertips) but wouldn't most shipping crates be of fairly new wood and only used once? If so, I'd say you should paint them with a fairly light color paint (honey brown) then dry brush a little darker paint for depth. Palletts are usually used over and over therefore they could be lots of different colors. From light ( as in newer) to very dark with silver tones (well used) . If you use an acrylic paint you probably wouldn't need to prime them. Brian
Actually most pallets and crates are made from Ash. It's cheap and a lot more durable. It has a mix of lite yellows and grays alone with stains from use.
