How do you 'antique' wood? Just got an old pine chest!

[miljee]

Bought on eBay- it's OK but a bit plain and a little bit knocked around but not in a good way as in not what you'd call 'the patina of age' way, iykwim! Am I right in thinking the process has something to do with making divots all over it with a chisel or a hammer then rubbing dark brown boot polish into them to give them depth? Then what? An over all wax polish? Or does the process involve unevenly rubbed in wood stain? At present it doesn't really have a 'surface' on it, perhaps a light varnishing. Any ideas gratefully received!

I once redecorated a mahogany dressing table much to DHs disgut. I used a wood bleach after sanding to take out the colour, you could try that and then used a wax stain to colour it and now I just apply beeswax to it every now and then and it does look old, there are not many bumps & stuff on it, but it definitely looks old. The problem is you have to keep on at it, to give the patina that I think you are after. HTH

That should have read, disgust. I have just had my nails done again, sorry.