Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

New member. Am gathering materials for a teardrop build.
Being a budget build, I will be using the canvas covering.
I was wondering if anyone here has tried
using the faux wood grain painting on the canvas?

Thought it would be cool to wood grain the sides, then
paint a contrasting trim and wood grain like a slumber coach.

That stage is a long ways off, just looking ahead.

Edit: I was thinking maybe the texture of the canvas
might not let the glaze used for the grain to flow properly.

Do it the way they used to do it in the old days. First, paint everything with a light beige or off-white semi-gloss paint; then, after that dries, lightly sand it, wipe off the dust, and add a layer of One-step stain and finish, such as Minwax. You can use a brush to get a wood grain look; or, I think I've seen a paint-style roller that has a wood grain design on it. (It's been a while since I saw that, though.) Practice on scraps first.

Edit: I was thinking maybe the texture of the canvas
might not let the glaze used for the grain to flow properly.

Yes, you're right. You will need to fill the canvas grain completely and sand it and wipe it down before you start with the final painting and stain/finish. Minwax makes a polyurethane One-step stain; but, if you're going to use this process on the outside, better check with the manufacturer to be certain that it is okay for use outside...might fade or not be UV tolerant.

Thanks for the reply. Will try some test pieces
and see how easy it is to get the surface of
the canvas smooth.
Also try one with normal saturation and finish
coat.
Hoping someone who has tried it will chime in.
Have seen some demos of folks doing exterior
doors on homes and the stuff they use holds up
well to the elements.

I knew a guy that used old carpet for a brush to make faux wood grain. He was a bit of a magician with paint and it looked great. Never tried it myself, it probably wouldn't end well.

I once did a job many moons ago building a huge walk in freezer at the waterfronters union building canteen on the auckland shipping port.
They had an old painter in his 70s i recon doing the most amazing fake woodgrain youve ever seen.
Basicly like sharon described ,beige pain then he had a curved steel stamp that had knotts cast on it and grain.
Sometimes he rolled it other times he dragged it.
After that he did some touch ups with an artists brush the stain then poly.
You couldnt tell the difference from pine paneling less than a foot away.
Was amazing.
So it can be done but he was a master.
Youll have no problems getting pmf perfectly flat.
Ive just spent days at it and 4 coats with no sanding i was geting close to removing the weave pattern

A good friend used a crumpled ball of newspaper as a tool. He did a great job on the interior pieces of a vintage car. He would drag the wet stain with a ball of paper and if he didn't like the results, he would wipe it off and start over. I know it sounds bad but the results were great.

Tom

Thanks for the replies folks.
Once the surface is ready, I will experiment
and see what happens. Like was mentioned,
it can wipe off. And if it doesn't, a little
sanding and another coat of paint.

The more you look through the threads here,
the more options you find.
It is kind of overwhelming.
Still working on cad drawings at the moment.

Been camping all my life. Done a lot of canoe
solo trips. Just need to decide what I need/want
to take with me. And where it will all fit before
the cutting starts next spring.

Hi
I'm late to join this thread, so apologies if you've already completed your build! A few years ago in the uk I did a course in decorative paint effects... Faux woodgrain, stencilling etc. As others have said, a pale base coat, then a tinted semi transparent finish over that (we used to use scumble glaze) but an oil based varnish would probably be ok. I wouldn't use acrylic (water based) as it might dry too fast, before you've created all your grain patterns.

One way of adding a very subtle woodgrain is a technique called dragging. You can buy a special dragging brush, or get similar effects with any long bristle decorating brush, and you drag it through your glaze or varnish with long even strokes right down the full length. Heres the type of effect it creates



For a stronger effect you need a Graining rocker. Made of rubber etc, has a curved surface, and woodgrain texture embossed into it. By dragging it along your glaze or varnish, whilst also rocking it gently back and forth, you get a quite realistic grain.



GOOD LUCK, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE

Have been working with so many drawings.
Just now getting ready to build the trailer chassis.
Have decided to go with a small Grumman (an actual woody) for now so I can
have something to use while I can get a foam standie going.

I will be experimenting with the faux wood grain. I have seen some that just
looked to nice to not consider it. Especially since the standie will have the
canvas covering.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply and give your input.

I've heard of it done by putting a little glue in the paint, then dragging a comb over it.