How to Lime a Table

Giving a plain wood table an aged, whitewashed look takes no more than a few simple tools and products any beginner can tackle

By Jennifer Stimpson

Getting the Whitewashed Look

Lime wash, a lime-and-water solution that gives wood a whitewashed look, was once applied to barns and fences for practical purposes: to deter insects and protect them from the elements. Today it's evolved into a purely decorative treatment, with less caustic liming wax lending hardwoods, such as oak and ash, that faded, aged appearance. Here, Floyd Rosini, a third-generation furniture restorer in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina, offers insight into the process, sharing his go-to products as well as a few cost-cutting measures for beginners.

Bronze Brush

Use it to open the pores of bare wood. "Cheaper brass brushes do the job but may leave deeper cuts," says Rosini.

About $36; Kingdom Restorations

Sandpaper

Smooth brushed wood with 220-grit garnet sandpaper.

About $9 for 25 sheets; at hardware stores

Furniture Brush

Clean wood dust from pores (and later work wax down into the grain) with this natural bristle brush. It's an investment item, so "a beginner can use a vacuum brush attach-ment and a Scotch-Brite pad."

About $58; Kingdom Restorations

Nitrile Gloves

These protect hands against oils and solvents longer than latex.

About $15 for 100; The Home Depot

Cheesecloth

"The extra-soft variety allows more precise control when applying wax and wiping away excess."

About $6 for a two-pack; Kingdom Restorations

Liming Wax

Rub it into the grain using circular, overlapping strokes. "In a pinch you can even use white paste shoe polish instead of liming wax for small projects."

About $15 for 8 ounces; Woodcraft