Plastic Pirate Sword Mod

Step 5 Spray paint wood grain

11.  Layer your spray paint.  Start with your red spray paint. Hold the piece you are painting at least 12" away, if not 18". Spray off to the side and try to 'capture' a hint of the spray on your acrylic-painted surface area. The red coat will help reinforce the mahogany color and add depth. For a more straightforward brown, this could be omitted. Feel free to go slightly heavier with the red on the areas which you might expect to have more wear--on the inside of the hilt, for instance. Let the red dry adequately, then do the brown. Hold your pieces 12" away from the brown again, but strive for better coverage with the brown. Good light helps with this technique. Again, let this dry, then take it back to the sanding station.

12. Using the fine grit (220) sand paper, lightly sand the wood areas. Go harder in some areas then others, exposing the acrylic pigments you built up ever-so-patiently before. Once you have a bit of wood grain starting to emerge, wipe the dust off and take the pieces outside. Use your misting technique to add more red & brown again, this time very lightly. The initial sanding reveals the coloring and wood grain, the final misting gives it that well-worn laqcuered look. The second misting is your final and top coat of color so be judicoius about it's application. If you find you applied too much paint, simply sand and mist again until you achieve the look you want.