Help or Advice for Pickling Gone Wild

[morogue]

So, yeah, I was a bit surprised by the dramatic results. I was looking for a greyed/weathered look.
This sudden deep purple is cool to me, less cool to the wife...

Any hints to get lighter and greyer?
If worse comes to worse, I'll wire brush highlights and keep it red with dark crevices.

Thanks!

 

[leakyroof]

What chemical or finish did you use to get to the current color/look. That may help one of the really savvy finishers we have on this forum for your next step.
Tim, Scott B. , anyone else????

 

[tjbnwi]

That appears to be reclaimed pine. You do not pickle pine, you white wash it. Pickling is done to oak.

What did you do to get the piece to where it is at now?

I believe you are trying to achieve a driftwood look???

You may have to sand this back to bare, use Zar Country Boards stain.

Tom

 

[tiralie]

So, yeah, I was a bit surprised by the dramatic results. I was looking for a greyed/weathered look.
This sudden deep purple is cool to me, less cool to the wife..

Sudden? What did you do?

Any hints to get lighter and greyer?

Submerge some steel wool in some vinegar for 24 hrs and brush it on for a grey pickled color. Do not expose the solution to any iron, or the rust will add brown the the solution. 
Alternatively use some Minwax grey stain. Wipe or brush on a wet surface to prevent streaks. You can use a tea wash to increase the tannin's but it's not necessary with a stain.

 

[morogue]

In case it's not clear, the wood is dimensional redwood, from Lowe's mostly.
Beveled corners with dominos. Rock and rolled over them with the wobble cutter in the planer. Used hand carving tools and gouges, various other pokie things.
I experimented with polyurethane glue and titebond 3 for glues. Neither one is perfect for the job, but it's okay for my own house.
I'm going for a reclaimed look. I was watching Redwood Kings and they use vinegar and steel wool. I used shavings from A36 steel. Their new redwood came out looking greyed and mine came out looking burnt.
I think I was too heavy on the filings!
I'm okay with it, because one of the members had darkened up almost to the same color, just from being outside, and it was not matching the rest of the members at all. So, now that they are consistent, I can work the red back into them.
What would be the clear to lock in the final appearance? Something that can be mopped on (half joking). The surface is wire brushe and scotch brited, so despite the texture, it is fairly soft to the touch.

 

[tiralie]

Spray on some matte or satin polyurethane...