Interesting problem here.. I'm putting in a custom stereo system, and to do the interior trimming I need to add a few wooden panels. I'd like to get the finish as close to burl walnut as possible. I can get the colour right (slight amount of mahogany varnish mixed with walnut... I'm varnishing pinewood.) but I cant get the texture right. Any ideas people? I can only get grain, not the 'spottyness' of the burl walnut. Is there a special process to achieve it?

Thanks!!

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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069

Have you tried other types of wood? Different woods have different grains. I knew a car stereo installer who used birch plywood for mounting equipment, and real walnut shouldn't be *that* expensive.

Hope this helps,


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Robert W. Roe
1984 300SD 165,961 miles

I can get the right grain for normal walnut with a paintbrush... it's the burl effect I cant get. I was thinking about running some cotton wool soaked in white spirit across the varnish.

I can buy normal walnut but cant find any burl walnut. This is driving me nuts! :-)

Thanks,


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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069

I have seen wood craftsmen get some results by spot burning [ scorching' with a small tipped torch.

I would suggest a slightly different route. Check with a furniture veneer supplier. A little contact cement and you can add a paper thin layer of real burl and it won't look phony. If you can match the gloss and the "tone", it will blend right in.