Prepare the surface to be grained by removing any shine or glossiness using a medium/fine abrasive paper.

This is essential to provide a good key for the basecoat.

Putting the basecoat straight onto a gloss surface will increase the possibility of the comb or graining tools scraping off the paint back to the original surface.

Special precautions should be taken to pre-1960's painted surfaces as they may contain lead. Apply a coat of acrylic, in the suitable colour, to the prepared surface.

Ensure good ventilation during all stages of your application.

Don't worry if it looks a bit uneven, this often helps when graining as wood has extreme variation.

Allow enough time to dry thoroughly dry(4 hours should be sufficient in good conditions), overnight if possible.

Don't panic if the basecoat and graincoat colors don't look right when wet, the colors settle and change on drying.

Apply a second coat, to enhance the base colour and provide a better working surface for the graining.

Make sure none of the original surface is showing through.

It is a good idea to do a test run on a piece of scrap board.

Practice with the rocker tool; draw it the whole length of the wood twisting your wrist gently as you progress.

Don't stop moving the graining tool as you rock it(turn it with your wrist movement) to produce the grained effect.

Its a lot easier than it sounds and if you make a mistake just brush out with a little more graincoat and try again.

Apply the graincoat over the whole of one section to be grained. Don't worry about it being uneven or getting brush marks.

While the graincoat is wet, line the whole section in one direction using the graining comb.

Then use the rocker tool to make the heartwood wood-grain effect.

Only  use the rocker tool once in each 6 to 8 inch width of surface leaving a couple of inches of the comb lines on each side.