5 Best Wood Graining Tool (Top Polishers’ Investigation)

The wood graining tools have the power to make surfaces like metal, plastic or even steel look like wood. This can even give you a nice texture. But if you don’t have the right tools you won’t get the desired pattern.

Plus, you must want the best wood graining tool since you’re investing a few bucks on them.

But wait, there are thousands of brands to choose from. You might even get lost while browsing from one website to another in search of “the one”.

Fear not, for we have come up with a recipe that’ll tell you everything you need to know about wood grains. We’ve even suggested 5 tools that stood out in the market.

However, they are all verified to be the best by our expert team of researchers. So, yes, do check out our guide.

But first, let’s jump right into the reviews for the top picks-

1. Allway GT3 Graining Tool

Allway GT3 Graining Tool

  • Weight: 6.38 ounces
  • Material: Plastic
  • Pieces: 2 curved tools, and 1 triangle tool
  • Handle size: 6.7 inches
  • Sizes of curved tools: 3 and 6 inches

At the top of our little list, we have the Allway GT3 Graining Tool. Now, we know that we have given it the winner’s title. But there are some justifiable reasons behind it. So, let’s take a look at the evidence that’ll prove its work-

First of all, we have to mention that this is the only product on our list that’s made of plastic. Now, when we say it’s made of plastic we mean that the head of the graining tool is made of plastic.

Because of this feature, it causes less friction, making the overall usage more efficient. This also generates less heat and the texture doesn’t turn out too rough like the other rubbered ones.

As for the toolset, there are 3 different headpieces. 2 of them are wood grain rollers and the other one is the triangular teeth.

Because of these 3 tools, you’ll be able to alter the wood pattern. You see, the 2 rollers can be changed from time to time to make irregular patterns on different surfaces.

While on the other hand, the triangular tool has 3 sides of its own. These 3 sides have teeth on them. Moreover, they can dig into the glazed layer to make a more defining texture on the wood.

Plus, the handle and the rollers can be flipped when necessary. This makes it very helpful when you want to achieve variation in the wood pattern.

On top of this, they are also easy to use. So, even if you’re a beginner it won’t be a problem for you. But, if you still have a problem grasping the usage of this tool then you can always see a few tutorials online. They’ll teach you.

Besides this, it can be used on a variety of surfaces to create different textures. These textures include Catherine oak, pine, and cedar woods.

2. Tinton Life 61126DJ-SQSB Graining Tool

Tinton Life 61126DJ-SQSB Graining Tool

  • Weight: 12 ounces
  • Material: Soft rubber
  • Pieces: 1 empaistic wood pattern painting roller and 1 x graining painting tool with a handle
  • Empaistic wood pattern painting roller size: 7×1.77 inches
  • Graining painting tool with handle: 3.9×6.1 inches

The “Tinton Life 61126DJ-SQSB” Graining Tool is the second item on our list. Tinton was a great rival for the winner but in the end, it had to settle for the runner-up position. But hey, it still has cool features worth checking out-

The number one thing that sets it apart from the rest of the items on this list is the Empaistic wood pattern painting roller. Yep, none of the other candidates have this handy tool in their collection. Only this one does.

You see, the painting roller brush has wood patterns on them. Making them a very efficient tool to use. Since all, you have to do is roll them over the glazing surface and it’ll leave a trail of wooden texture behind.

This process is faster which means you’ll be able to save up some time. So, if you’re looking for a quick way to cover up large surfaces then this is the product for you.

Apart from the roller, there is a graining painting tool. This one has a head size of 3.9 inches. So, it’ll give you slower but more accurate results. However, some people do struggle to use this tool.

In order to make the tool work, tilt it and drag it towards you. But first, apply a base layer and allow it to dry up. Then apply a second glazed layer. That said, do mix it with water for a better effect.

On top of that, rock the tool to create a wood pattern. Now, the pattern will depend on the way you do the rocking. Whatever you do, don’t go overboard. But, why? Excess rocking will disrupt the pattern.

On top of all these, the tools are made of soft rubber. So, they are quite durable. Hence, you can expect the tools to last a long time.

And besides, these are premium products so they are of good quality. Hence, it’ll stick around a while.

Lastly, the tools are quite easy to wash. Therefore, a little combo of soap and water will do the trick. However, we do recommend that you clean up the tools right after you’re done using them.

This way, the tool wouldn’t have solid paint stains on them. If they do they might cause the next course of action to be of bad quality.

3. ZAR 14337 Graining Tool

ZAR 14337 Graining Tool

  • Material: Canvas
  • Item: One item
  • Usable surfaces: wood, metal, and plastic
  • Color: Beige
  • Weight: 1.6 ounces
  • Dimension: 1.13 x 3.25 x 8.69 inches
  • Side of the head: 3 inches

On the third, we have another tool and that’s the ZAR 14337 graining tool. The manufacturer claims that this tool can create beautiful wood grain patterns on different surfaces. But is it true?

Well, there’s one way to find out-

The Zar 14337 has only one tool in its package. And it’s the wood grain roller. Now, while many people might see this as a downside, we believe that the company focused all its energy on one product and gave a decent output.

You see, with this one tool you can make various patterns. All you have to do is simply alter the speed and use random rocking rhythms. And since there are so many things to catch on to, you’ll have to be careful.

Plus, it has a rotatable head. So, you can alter the direction of the roller to get some more variation in patterns on the surfaces.

Getting different results from one product isn’t a walk in the park. So, this tool isn’t classified for beginners or amateurs. Nope, it’s for more professional users.

With that being said, you can always buy the tool and practice with it. Ultimately you’ll reach the pros level and will be a master of this tool.

And the reason to go for such a tool is that it’s reasonable in price and is reusable. Thus, you’ll be getting your money’s worth. 

Now, how is it reusable?

Well, like the other tools on our list, you can clean this one with some soap and water. Once the tool has been completely wiped clean you can use them again for your next work.

Additionally, this roller can work on metal, plastic, or even wood surfaces. So, you can get the wood-like texture on various furniture in the house and get them to sync to elevate the overall look of the house.

However, the size of the brush is only 3 inches. So, you don’t get to cover a lot of surfaces at once. Hence, it makes the overall graining process a bit lengthier.

A wider head size would have been more efficient. Nevertheless, you still get some good results for a decent price.

4. Red Devil 3710 Graining Tool

Red Devil 3710 Graining Tool

  • Material of the head: Rubber
  • Handle material: Wood
  • Number of heads: 3
  • Items: 2 wood grain Roller, 1 triangular comb
  • Item weight: 5.6 ounces

Next up, we have the Red Devil 3710 graining toolset The name might be a bit daring but should you dare to purchase their product. Well, you can’t say before a complete analysis. So, for judgment purpose let’s inspect it-

The most budget-friendly wood grain toolset is this product. So, if you’re looking for something that is within a decent price range but still want great features out of it then this might be the one for you.

However, don’t assume that the toolset is of a low-grade product. Nope, it has some features that are quite the catch when compared to its price.

Like the first product, this one also has 3 heads and one handle. These 3 pieces include 3 rollers of different sizes and 1 triangular crawler. Now, the rollers can be detached to achieve various patterns.

But that’s not all, the triangular crawlers have teeth on 3 sides. So, you can use all of the sides to make your desired patterns.

That’s not all. It can even work on walls, window frames, beams, wood benches, doors, desks, wood furniture, and many more. So, you’ll have a lot of use for this product.

Best of all, it can be used on concrete floorings. Thus, you can hide the concrete floors and make them look like wooden floors with these grain tools.

Additionally, it’s made out of rubber. Thus you can count on it to last a long time. Plus, it’s not metal so it won’t corrode over time. And it’s flexible hence you’ll be able to bend it at will to get the perfect end results.

On top of this, the rubber tools do not emit any odor after use. And you can even clean them using soap and water. Thus it’s reusable.

5. Bioristar Wood Texture Roller Graining Tool

Bioristar Wood Texture Roller Graining Tool

  • Material: Rubber
  • Weight: 10.8 ounces
  • Color: Red
  • Number of tools: 5

Lastly, we have the Bioristar wood texture roller graining tool. We know this particular tool didn’t score the most marks in our eyes but its features may intrigue you. So, let’s give this one a chance and look at its features-

Up until now, we have encountered wood grain tools with 2 or 3 tools. But this one set of tools contains 5 different tools for wood graining purposes.

However, a fair warning- this wood grain roller set is a bit expensive compared to the others. Nevertheless, it has its reasons. So, what are they?

Well, as mentioned before it has 5 different wood grain rollers. Each of them varies in size. Thus, you don’t have to alter your speed or rocking rhythm to get variation in the patterns.

Nope, all you have to do is switch to a different-sized roller and the pattern will be different. This function makes it easier to use as you don’t have to have total control over your speed to get the ultimate results.

Besides this, the rollers can be used on a lot of surfaces. Concrete floors, walls, desk, doors, you name it. It’ll work smoothly over them, as long as they are flat.

Moreover, the graining tools are of premium quality. That makes it worth the purchase.

Apart from all these, the Bioristar wood texture Roller graining tool is made of rubber. Thus, it’s known to be long-lasting, odorless, and flexible.

In short, it’s a great tool for beginners. And, you’ll get a lot of options for the pattern designs and it won’t be hard to achieve great results from the alternation of the 5 tools.

Types of Tool to Make Fake Wood Grain

best wood graining tool

By now, you have encountered a lot of a variety of tools. Some are in triangular shape while others take a more semi-circular appearance. But how many variations of grain tools are there?

Well, there are 6 different types of wood graining tools. And all of them have different specialties. Let’s have a closer look to know more about these tools.

1. Check Roller

The check roller tool has a roller set on a handle. Plus, it has a lot of stainless steel plates, around a central metal plate. These stainless plates move on their own. Thus, it ends up creating an arbitrary pattern.

Even the check roller can also make a nice background texture and give a more porous outlook when used. So, you’ll be getting the texture of trees like oak and mahogany.

2. Overgrainer Brush

Overgraining brushes consist of a wide range of brushes, each of them with different widths. Their main purpose is to fix the mix of mistakes made by other tools.

Once you’re done with the tools you can simply drag the brushes over the imperfect spots to conceal the damage. However, it’s not easy to use so you’ll need the practice to get the hang of this tool.

3. Softening Brush

The name of this tool says a lot. It’s mainly used to soften the rough edges made by other tools. Now, typically this tool is made of animal hair so you can count on them to be super smooth.

4. Check Combs

The check combs have teeth on them that gets dragged through the glades. Now, the most famous ones are the triangular combs. You’ll see that they have teeth on 3 sides. These are used to create different patterns.

5. Wood Grain Rocker

A wood grainer rocker is usually made of rubber with knots on its head. They tend to be a common item used when graining wood. However, the downside to this item is that it can’t be detached.

With this tool, you can make variable patterns by simply rocking it over the glazed surface.

6. Wood Grain Rollers

The rollers are generally like the rockers but they can be detached. This gives you the ability to use different heads to get various patterns. Hence, you won’t have to alter the speed to get more options.

Instead, you can switch to a different roller to get the same results. Plus, you can clean them efficiently when they are taken off the handle.

Identifying Wood Grain Types (6 Different Patterns)

You must have seen wood grains tools capable of making various patterns. So, there must be distinguishable patterns. Let’s take a dive to look into these patterns that you’ll be creating.

1. Oak Grains

There are typically two types of oak. These are red and white oaks. They are mainly used to make furniture, floor, cabinetry, or even doors.

As for the grain pattern, they are typically straight with uneven and coarse textures. They can be used by using check rollers.

2. Mahogany Grains

There are various Mahogany woods thus their texture varies. However, the most famous one is the Cuban mahogany. They tend to be red-brown in color. But their color tends to deepen with time.

Since there are so many mahogany woods their grain pattern can vary. They can be anything like straight, wavy, interlocked, or even curly. Thus, you can use a combination of grain tools to achieve the results.

3. Teak Grains

Teak wood typically has a golden brown color. Like the mahogany wood, it gets darker with time.

The grain on this wood is straight, interlocked, or wavy grain. The texture is uneven and coarse. Hence, you can use either a rocker or roller for this.

4. Zebrano Grains

The Zebrano grains have a unique grain pattern. Unlike the rest, it’s not arbitrary. Instead, it’s quite symmetrical.

To be more specific, this grain consists of more alternating grains. It comes in the typical color of pale toffee and deep brown color. Thus, giving it a unique color variation look.

5. Brazilian Rosewood Grain

The Brazilian rosewood differs in color. They can be dark chocolate brown, light purple, or red-brown color.

On the wood, there are some dark, black streaks of contrasting color. They make a unique grain pattern like spiral grain, wavy, or interlocked.

It’s known as the spider web. It also has a unique coarse texture that you can achieve using the check combs.

6. Ebony Grains

The ebony-wood is dark black in color. Typically the grain isn’t quite visible. It usually has gray-brown or dark brown streaks on top of it.

Grains are mostly straight, but there may be interlocked grains. The texture is even and fine with a natural luster. You can use a rocker at a slow speed to breathe the texture and then use brushes to make the pattern look soft.

How to Use a Wood Graining Tool?

Now, you might choose one of the graining tools but how do you know what to use? Well, the answer is simple, all you have to do is follow our instructions. They will lead to some amazing patterns.

Step 1: Paint the Base Coat

Firstly, start with the base coat. Paint it using a paintbrush. Now, you can use any color for the base. Typically people go with black or dark brown. After that, let it dry up.

Step 2: Add a Glazed Layer

Up next, you can go ahead and apply a glazed paint layer. This will be the wet layer on which the grain tools will do their magic. Now, you don’t have to wait for this layer to dry up.

In fact, it doesn’t have to dry up. You can use rockers on the roller once the coat is applied evenly.

Alternatives for Glazed Paint

Now, if you’re not happy to work with glazed paint you can always go for other options. You can either shift to gel stain or go for chalk-based paints.

No matter what you choose the technique will be the same. You’ll have to pull and rock the graining tools to get various textures.

Step 3: Drag the Glazed Layer

Lastly, dragged the rockers or rollers on the glazed surface. For varying textures, you can alter the speed or use different heads.

And if you wish to get a more rough texture then rock the roller or rocker to get the desired pattern. However, don’t overdo it. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a too-clustered pattern.

How to Clean Wood Grain Tools?

Some of the wood grainers tools are actually washable. That means you need to clean them properly in order to reuse them. So, to clean them properly you need to wipe the excess glaze using paper towels.

However, this won’t get rid of all the wet liquid off the tools. Thus, you have to rub soap all over the tools and scrape the liquid off. Make sure you do this entire process before the liquid dries up.

Otherwise, it’ll solidify and you won’t be able to get the liquid off.

What Color Goes with Wood Grain?

Once you’re done with the wood grain you can choose different colors for the surrounding furniture to complement the wood. This all works to elevate the loom in your home.

So, what color works with woods of various colors?

Well, if you went for the darker patterned woods, such as mahogany woods, use more lights in the room. Try to use lighter furniture as well, such as white.

This takes away the focus from the dark wood and creates balance in the entire room.

On the other hand, if you’re using light wood, like pinewood, then try to throw in shades of green. They bring out the yellow color of pinewood and balance out the entire room.

However, if you’ve gone for the normal woods with medium brown color then use warm colors to spice up the rooms. These colors create a more natural look which compliments the raw color of the wood.

Tips on Painting Fake Wood Grain

By now, you must have a clear idea of how to paint wood grains. But then again to improve the technique we have a few pieces of advice stored up for you. And here they are-

  • Cover the surface with tape so that only the targeted area gets grained
  • Put newspaper below the workstation to collect the debris
  • Don’t touch the wet glaze
  • Try not to rock the wood grain tools too much
  • Practice with the rocker before doing the main job
  • Clean off the tools immediately

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can you make MDF look like wood?

Answer: The medium density fiberboard can be used to look like wood. However, for the right results, coat extra layers of paint over the board. After that, you can use a wood graining tool to add extra effect. Then coat it with gloss coats to give a high fiber finishing look.

Question: How do you make wood look old and beat up?

Answer: To make wood look old and beat up use a wired brush. Run them down the grain. This will bring out the softer grains and make it look like the wood has more texture. And since this is old wood’s works so it’ll look ancient.

Question: How to age wood quickly?

Answer: To age wood, dip a few steel wool in white vinegar. Leave it for a few hours or days. The more it steeps, the darker the aged effect will be. Then, pour vinegar and steel wool into a jar. Later on, take a brush to wipe the iron vinegar on the wood. Lastly. Wait till it dries.

Question: How do you restore wood grain?

Answer: To restore wood grains paint over the wood with a base coat. Then let it dry. After that, apply another layer of coating. Lastly, you can use wood graining tools to make new grain patterns.

To Sum Up

Well, folks, that’s all the info on the best wood graining tool. We hope this guide helped you clear a lot of things about the wood graining technique. And with this info, you can pick your wood graining tool.

Anyway, with that, our work is done. Let’s meet again on another blog. Till then, adios!

Kevin Smith

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