Aged Wooden Boards -DIY backgrounds for food pictures

If you have been following my blog you will  be aware that I have been collecting old scrap wood to create a collection of backgrounds for my food photos. In my last post I shared how I used pva glue and acrylic paint to create some cracked finished wood  boards.In this post I am going to share how I created an aged wooden platform to use for my food photos.
I had recently visited a garden centre where I had managed to source some aged off cuts of old fencing that the garden centre had thrown away. I also goggled how to make inexpensive stain for the wood using wire wool and vinegar.Below is a tutorial of how I created my wooden board.

Materials:

For Board:

7 strips of wood approximately 18 x 6 inches.
Few  nails 1.5 cm long(depends on thickness of wood)
Hammer
Paint brush
Bin liner
Empty Jar
Hack saw
Sandpaper
Old rag
Rubber gloves

For Stain:

Wire wool
Vinegar

Method:

1. In a glass jar add the wire wool and top it up fully with vinegar, place the lid and put the jar in the garage for 2 weeks.After two weeks open the jar in a well ventilated room ( the smell is very pungent) and you will notice that the wire wool has rusted and the vinegar has turned brown in to a stain.Strain the mixture into a clean jar and discard the rusted wire wool.

2. Cut the wood so that you have 7 pieces roughly the same length.They don’t have to be cut  too perfect.

3.Place 5 pieces of the cut wood side by side as shown in diagram 1below and place the remaining two pieces horizontally as shown on diagram 2.

Diagram 1                          Diagram 2
4.Nail the  pieces 6 and 7  to the the pieces 1-5 as shown in diagram three with a grey dot. You may want to add a few extra nails to secure the pieces together.(Make sure the nails are not longer than the thickness of the wood.)

                                                                          Diagram 3


5. Using the sand paper sand away any splinters and wipe the wood with a damp cloth.
6. Place the bin liner on the floor and place the wooden board on it, using the brush paint the stain on both sides of the wooden board.To achieve a darker colour apply a second coat of stain after first coat is dry.I applied a single coat to one side of my board and a double coating on the other side so that I had two different finishes.
7. Leave the board to dry for 24 hours.

Finished Board top side

Here is a a picture showing this side of the board used in one of my photos.

Finished board bottom side
Here is a picture using the back this side of the same board in the photo below.
I am really pleased with my board as it has given me two different looks and finishes.
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Nayna Kanabar

A vegetarian influencer that loves to travel and discover new places.

61 thoughts on “Aged Wooden Boards -DIY backgrounds for food pictures

  1. oh my goodnes, this is genius! I've just raved about it to my husband. I don't think I currently have a need for a prop like this, but I am going to search for a need – I just want to have a go!

  2. Fab post, I was just eyeing up something like this on Pinterest. Have sidelined a load of old pallets to make a load of different wood effects. Genius idea

  3. What a fabulous background! Nayna you're the most talented lady, surely you should organize some teaching classes how to make things like that 😉 I'm the first one to attend!

  4. great idea, I aint allowd to play with mens toys as hubby calls it , he says us woman shou.dnt play with screws and hammers incase we hurt ourselves, haha x

  5. I love the home made stain that you made. It's really effective. The boards look great in your photos, they make such a difference.

  6. This sounds like fun. I've never used props in my photography but I love the idea of homemade props. I did some refinishing of furniture when I was young but never could get into it. Maybe now,when I am older. Alana

  7. Nice wooden board.. I want to have one too but here in Brazil can't find any old planks any where.. I am still in search .. maybe one day I'll find them some where.

  8. Love the natural wooden effect the best. There is a rustic charm in old wood that makes everything pop up and look beautiful.
    Sonal@simplyvegetarian777

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