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There’s just something special about aged wood. It’s got that timeless, rustic charm to it that gives furniture and other natural features in your home just a little more character. But most of us don’t want to wait years while wood ages naturally. Fortunately, you can speed up the process with a little help from some readily available wood stain products or even using some ingredients found commonly around the house. Here are five ways to make new wood look old instantly.
What Is Aged Wood?
Wood takes on that rustic look over time through the process of oxidization. Exposure to oxygen and light cause the surface of the wood to either darken or lighten, depending on the species. Moisture and exposure to the elements add to the process. That’s one reason barn wood looks so cool.
Always Start With a Test Board
Different species of wood will “age” differently, so make a test board using the type of wood you’ll be staining. Shown above are pine (bottom) and cedar (top). Make sure the wood is clean and dry before you begin. Rough-sawn cedar has a smooth and a rough side. The rough side is shown here. If the final project is going to be sanded for a smooth finish, make sure to sand the test board the same as the project board.
Iron Vinegar On Cedar
Here’s how to cheaply (and quickly) age wood and make it look old and gray. Just apply iron vinegar to fresh cedar lumber:
- Soak some steel wool in white vinegar for a few hours or a few days – the longer it steeps, the darker the aged effect will be. Fill the jar with the steel wool and vinegar; the measurements don’t have to be precise.
- Use 0000 steel wool so it breaks down even faster in the vinegar. Use a brush to wipe on the iron vinegar. Let dry.
Experiment with how long the steel wool is left in the vinegar. If you want an even darker finish, brush on a black tea wash before applying the iron vinegar (see the next slide for iron vinegar on pine).
Before and after
Left: New cedar lumber.
Right: New cedar stained with iron vinegar after 30 minutes.
Tea Plus Iron Vinegar On Pine
Iron vinegar, by itself, doesn’t have much of an effect on pine. Use a black tea wash first to get a grayer and darker effect:
- Boil water and add 2 black tea bags for each cup of water. Let steep for 5 minutes.
- Brush the tea onto the board. Let dry.
- Now apply the iron vinegar and let it dry. You’re done!
Before and after
Left: New pine lumber.
Right: New pine stained with tea and iron vinegar.
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Semi-Transparent Stain
Many manufacturers make gray stains without using a steel wool and vinegar stain. We tried out Benjamin Moore Arborcoat. It’s made for exterior use and stinks until it dries, but it gives a beautiful silvery sheen to both cedar and pine. The results are fast and predictable (unlike iron vinegar).
- Brush the stain onto the board.
- Let it dry.
Before and after
Left: New pine lumber.
Right: Benjamin Moore Arborcoat stain applied to pine.
Pioneer Wood
Pioneer Wood is a patina that gives wood a “barn-door” style. It works quickly, darkening and aging the wood. Still, part of the process requires the wood to sit outside in the weather after application. This is pine that was aged for two days, so if you want it darker, leave it outside longer.
- Dissolve powder in water. Let sit for 5 min.
- If you’re using cedar, that’s all you need to do. If you’re using pine, it will need to sit outside to mature the patina.
Before and after, cedar
Left: New cedar lumber.
Right: Cedar with Pioneer Wood stain.
Before and after, pine
Left: New pine lumber.
Right: Pine after application of Pioneer Wood stain – aged outdoors for two days.
Minwax Weathered Oak
Minwax Weathered Oak darkens the patina on pine slightly, but on cedar, it gives a soft gray overall tone with gold in the grain. You might have to apply it more than once to achieve the look you want. Results for this project can look very different than what is shown on the label, so be sure to test it first.
- Brush the stain onto the board.
- Let dry.
Before and after, cedar
Left: New cedar lumber.
Right: Cedar lumber with Minwax Weathered Oak stain.
