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Turn PVC into Faux Wood
Submitted to Community Chat
PVC
is a strong, versatile material but it isn’t exactly attractive. Give it a faux wood finish and it blends
nicely into all kinds of projects and styles. :)
You'll need:
*PVC
*Gel stain
*Safety glasses
*Dust Mask
*Protective Gloves
*Sander and course grit sandpaper
*Paper towels
*Wire brush
*Rapid removal file
First,
sand the PVC. Please wear safety glasses
and a dust mask during this step. Sand
until the surface is no longer smooth and all ink has been removed.
Next,
use the rapid removal file to make long gouges in the PVC. This will give the wood grain look to the
surface. You can also add some shorter cross grain scrapings to make the wood
look more aged and rustic. If the file
gets caked up with shavings, use the wire brush to scrape it clean.
When
you’re finished scraping with the file, clean the surface thoroughly to remove
the dust and loose shavings.
With
your protective gloves on, work the gel stain into the gouges and groves. Lightly wipe with a paper towel to remove the
excess. If, after you’ve applied and
wiped your first coat and want a deeper color, allow that first coat to dry and
then apply a second coat and wipe. Continue
until you get your desired tint.
I’d
previous tested the gel stain to ensure it could stand up to water splashes. It performed great! However, if you plan on using your PVC
outdoors, you’ll need some extra protection. Mix some gel stain into PVC cement and then apply to keep the weather
from ruining your color.
I've used this finish on hydroponic towers (that PVC and bucket look just does not blend well with any decor!) and on other PVC projects to make them much more aesthetically pleasing.
You can watch the entire video tutorial here: (My YouTube channel proceeds are donated to no-kill animal shelters and rescue organizations):