Tips & Tricks: Need weathered wood in a hurry? Here’s how.

Weathered wood posts and panels provide a great contrast against smooth letters and faces. RT Signs Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, uses this contrast in their work quite effectively. Rather than wait for the weathering process, though, they use a product that weathers the wood right in the shop.

Lifetime Wood Treatment [www.valhalco.com] is an aging product for new wood. It’s a powder that you mix with water and apply to the wood. It’s an easy way to create the look of aged barnwood or pallet wood.

“It works really well,” says Ralph Toews. “It looks even better as time goes on. We’ve used it on a number of signs on posts, trim and backgrounds.”