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The
time has come.
You have finally found the perfect, knobby, old and unique piece of wood that
will become your staff.
Your mage regalia has been stitched and embroidered to historic perfection.
Now you begin the same labor of historic love on your staff.
Arriving home, you debark it.
Pulling out the chisels, you rune it and carve the mystic sigils and holes where
mayhap a gem will be set.
Finally, getting ready to place a crystal in a dragon's claw at the top, you
step back.
Something is amiss. It looks new.
You wanted a staff that looked like an ancient artifact, a piece of lore
handed down from another mage. Instead
you have a staff off the newly fashioned rack.
The same applies to those artifacts you wish to show at the reenactments.
A bow of lore, or a wand of some far off mage would appear at least
somewhat weathered and worn.
True, you do not wish your sword to appear rusty but those are new to the
day of that age.
So the question becomes, "How can I make it look older?"
Well, here is your answer.
A long time ago, a gentleman in Arizona showed me this wonderful trick (If it
didn't work, why would I publish it?!?!)
For this version of aging your artifact, you will need an oil based enamel and a
coarse brush. Apply this to your
staff, but not over your runes, and let sit for twenty-four hours.
Next, we will use a special glaze which he taught me. Mix 1/3 cup turpentine
with 1 cup satin varnish. You have
to use your own judgment, along with an oil based tinting color. You are going to create an antique look by adding either a
gray, dark brown, burnt sienna, or (my favorite) brass to tint the mixture.
Glaze the entire piece, and let it sit for about ten minutes (Less in hotter
more in colder temperatures) After
the time has passed take a crumpled piece of paper, towel, cheesecloth, steel
wool (Get the general idea?), etc. to wipe off the glaze.
However, you will leave residue... more in depressions, and less where your
hands would normally be, to give it the worn appearance.
Allow this to dry full, say about eight hours.
You must wipe anything that might have settled on it (dust, etc.) off before the
next step.
Recheck your runes, and anything else you want to show through, because you
won't get a second chance.
Apply the gems to their holes, the globe in the dragon claw, and make sure they
are well secured by glue, etc.
Carefully use a clear satin varnish over all the wood.
I sometimes will coat the gems in the main body also, to give them more
strength in staying in place.
Allow it to dry for a few days, and then add any cords, etc. to it for show.
The other way I have learned to age wood is by ashes.
Take any ashes (Cigar, pipe, cigarette, etc.) and rub them over the wood.
Now lightly cover the wood with oil (Cooking is the best, but car oil
will give it a rough brown hue.)
This will now get one more coat of ashes, which will be rubbed in further by
cloth.
This is an excellent way of antiquing a bow, or other such item which needs to
maintain its flexibility.
May these hints aid you in your reenacting hobby. Enjoy!
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