How to Create Cracked / Chipped Paint on New Wood 

Thank you! Glad I could help!

Thanks! That’s what I was striving for

Thanks!

I was shocked when I tried glue a few months ago! I had an old cabinet door and I knew I was going to sand off the paint I'd just put on because I goofed, so I decided to play with glue and crackle! I painted glue on one half nice and even and all the same Direction. The other half I painted it on thick and all willy nilly like I was painting on chalk paint. then I painted the whole cabinet with the same color paint. I came back about an hour later and I was shocked at the difference! One end was just a perfect shattered Crackle, and the other end look like somebody had taken a sledgehammer to glass! It was so cool some of the crackles were three quarters of an inch wide! It was really fun to know that you could do some really freaky crackling with thick crazy brushed on glue. I keep seeing these tutorials where they're telling people to let the glue dry completely before they paint over it. I keep telling people in the comment think about that. Once the glue dries there's nothing happening to make it Crackle. The woman in the video was having to use her finger to make the paint do anything after the glue is dry that should tell you something LOL I don't understand why people don't have any common sense! During the drying process of the glue there are things happening molecules are doing stuff and that's causing the pain on the top to do stuff but when things aren't in flux things don't change! I would think would be so obvious that once that glue is completely dry painting over it would not make your paint Crackle!

Great explanation. Thanks!

Hi, what kind of paint is used, latex or oil?

@@dirtysteve3029 latex

True, except that, if purchase by the gallon, wood glue is not much more expensive than Elmer's glue.

What she says is true. I got a 1 Liter bottle of Elmer's glue on Amazon for 8 bucks Canadian. Did some tests with thick and thin glue, and the cracks differ on each case of thick glue vs. thick paint. Makes different size cracks. In some cases, very large cracks. There are so many variables between how much paint, and how much glue. Specially on a large project. Even brush strokes play a factor.

PVA glue is wood glue

Thank you! Good luck!

Thanks!

Thank you Fabiola!

Glad to hear it!

Glue should not be totally dry. Just “tacky.” It’ll protect the wood like paint does. You can add a clear coat over the top to add more protection.

Thanks!

Thank you Jessica. No, the base layer doesn’t have to be stain. But the color of the cracks will be a combination of the base color and the dried glue color.

@@AModernMaker Thanks for the reply, might try this on an old dresser

I think it would look great 👍

Thank you! I used Titebond wood glue. No pics at this time... thanks for watching!

@@AModernMaker which glue exactly my bro!

Great! Thanks for watching and commenting.

Thank you

That is correct. Thanks!

It’s very durable as is but yes you can definitely clear coat it. That’s what I did when I used it for baseboards

A Modern Maker ~ Wow that’s and awesome idea to use them as baseboards! I bet it looks really pretty ☺️ Thx for letting me know that clear coat would work.

Any time 👍

It works best in warm environment for the glue to dry quickly. The stain does not have to be fully dry, but it's best if it is.

+maria casiano, thanks!

Thank you! I’d think any durable top coat would work. Good luck!

How did it turn out because I'm about to do the same thing with mine! I was going to sand it off and blah blah blah but i think this technique would be much better and give it that wow factor!

Never even knew that stuff existed! Thanks for watching!

No I didn't

You’d have to add a clear coat of some sort, but it’s very durable

Thank you too!

Should be the same process, just do one section at a time and add a UV resistant clear coat if you want

+Eamon Walsh DIY Thank you!

Thank you ΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΑ ΠΙΤΣΙΟΥ! I haven't tried it with any other types of paints so I'm not sure. When I do, I'll let you know!

It only works with acrylic paints, and the less sheen the better. Flat or dull being the best.Also do not use the best quality paint.. use something on the low end.. not the cheapes,t but avoid the top quality products.

+MaddMaxx Thanks! I haven't tried any of those variations yet so I'm not sure. If I do, I'll let you know.

Thank you and looking forward to it. I have been inspired by many of your videos and hope to reproduce them in some way.

Oil based paint will NOT work. All coats .

I haven’t tried it on anything else, but don’t see why not as long as the glue and paint will stick...

+Y Barabbas Thank you! It was just titebond 2.

A Modern Maker Thanks for the response I tried Elmer's Carpenter's glue but I think the Titebond might give me a better effect thanks again. Back to the garage.

+Y Barabbas The timing and amount of everything has an effect on the end result as well. Possibly the temp in your garage too. Might have to use light passes with a heat gun if it’s cold. Good luck! Let me know if you have any more issues.

A Modern Maker Thanks brother really appreciate your help had a small heater going on in the garage. I'm getting the crack effect just not as dramatic I'll keep working on it thanks again man.

No problem Y Barabbas, any time.

😂

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

Yes you can! Just make sure to practice several times to get the technique down.

Omg! Great idea!!!!!! Gonna do mine too. They're so outdated and boring. Thank you for the idea

+Clive Bashford Thank you. Stain is oil based, paint is water based.

For the best results use water based products all the way.

Latex

It was just a latex paint. White primer to be exact. Something cheap.

Do you have to use a stain for the first coat or can you use another paint?

No stain necessary.

Thanks Bill D.

+mark zwolfer Thanks! Practice on a few small scrap pieces first... Good luck!

I'm sure it would!

have you tried to write on the poly coat ?? result??

Thin layer and let the glue dry a little bit. Let it get tacky

Anaconda Squezze give the glue a little longer to set/dry? 🤷🏼‍♂️

@@jonhaverkamp9861 thanks for being so prompt...I will try the "a little drier glue" option

No it was just a “white” wood.

I added a coat of poly on top and it’s very durable.

A Modern Maker. Polyurethane or polycrylic? Does it matter? Im new to this--i prefer water base-THANKYOU

I used water based polyurethane. You’re welcome!

Thank you

+Daniel Durkton Just long enough for it to get a tacky feel to it. Might try playing around with either: more glue, less dry time, more paint, or softer brush strokes. Good luck!

Thanks Will do . Have a great weekend !!!!!

bohemian46 please let me know too. Thanks!

I’ve only tried water based paint.

As long as it takes to get tacky. Not wet, not dry. On a hot day, only takes a few minutes.

Epoxy should work well for that purpose.

Thank you!

+Troye Stonich Thanks! It took a lot of experimentation, trial and error. I spent an entire day literally watching paint dry. Haha

Yes you can. The cracks come from the glue and paint combo.

I’m sure you can

I look forward to seeing it in a project Derek Conway!

I’m sure you can. The top coat is up to the durability you want. It was very solid without though

Thank you!

If you want

No, the stain just gives contrast in between the cracks. The cracks come from the glue drying and shrinking pulling the paint apart before it dries. You can try adding more glue and waiting until it’s “tacky”. So not quite dry, but not wet either so you can apply the paint without it mixing with the glue. It also needs to be warm enough to dry fairly quickly, so if the weather is cold you’ll have to do it indoors or near a heat source. There’s some other good comments on what has worked for people.

@@AModernMaker I'm from Sri Lanka, very hot and humid climate. I did everything as in you instructions but didn't work. Maybe coz if the high humidity! Dunno. Tried several times and each time didn't work. In any case after it fully dries won't the paint peel off coz it's over the glue?

Usually the reason it doesn’t crack is not enough glue, the glue died too much, or too much paint. I would try more glue, let it set for a minute or less, then add a little paint, less than you want, just to see if it’ll crack. The glue needs to be pretty thick and still a little wet otherwise it’ll dry too quickly and it’ll be like painting over dried glue. Once you get it right, it’s very durable and won’t peel off easily. But you can add a clear coat on top to make sure.

Cool man Thanks Will try and give feedback

Thank you!

Thank you +abe frohman

I have no idea. It would have to be a thick coat of spray paint though...

Yes I’m sure it would

Probably the exact same way minus the stain

cedar is very oily and the sap is acidic. paint issue sticking.

Thank you!

I haven’t tried with any other colors but I don’t see why it wouldn’t.

@@AModernMaker thank you, and what kind of paint did you use?

I'm planning the same. If you already did, let me know how it worked.

I’m sure you can

ok, no need to answer. Got it down below.

👍