How to Age Wood

Aged wood is a beautiful way to add character to your home or garden. Don’t have time for that rustic patina to develop naturally? Then try one of these methods to create the appearance of aged wood without waiting.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Aging Wood Using Steel Wool and Vinegar

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Placing steel wool in vinegar will, over time, dissolve the wool. This combines with the vinegar to create an aging stain.
Fill a glass jar with vinegar, and place a fist-sized chunk of steel wool inside it. Let it settle for a minimum of one day, but up to five days for a darker solution.^{[1]XResearch source}
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Sand it to remove any stain or coating which might prevent your aging solution from adhering properly.
Boil black tea to brush onto the wood prior to using your steel wool solution. Tea contains tannic acid, which reacts with the vinegar stain and darkens it. The tea will not add any color by itself, it will only make the wood appear wet.
Use a paintbrush to give a thorough coat to the wood. You should see an immediate change in color, which will dry after a few hours. Only one coat is necessary to give the “aged” look, but multiple coats can be applied to darken the wood.
Allow time to dry, and then use a damp rag and cold water to remove any residue from the steel wool. This can be the finished product, but if desired, a wax coating can be applied to preserve the effect.^{[2]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Aging Wood Using Stains and Paints

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Allow time to set and then wipe off the excess. This will remove any previous color or stain from the wood, and enhance the natural grain and texture.
This particular stain gives the appearance and color of wood that has been left for many years. If desired, this can be the final step.
Combine your own unique combination of a color glaze, antiquing glaze, and mixing glaze. Be sure to use all three glazes from the same brand, so as to insure proper color mixing.
4
Apply the rustic stain. Use a paintbrush to thoroughly coat the wood with the stain. There are multiple methods to do this:
- Apply a single coat for a lighter look. This also can give the appearance of slightly newer wood.
- Add multiple coats of stain to create a more worn look. This will also darken the wood, giving it a richer color.
- Create “freckles” on your wood by flicking stain using a paintbrush or toothbrush. This will give irregular small spots of dark color on the wood.^{[3]XResearch source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Creating Crackles in Your Wood

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Use any hue of your choice, but it must be an acrylic paint.
Use a generous amount to completely coat the wood. You should apply enough glue so that it appears opaque. Allow it to partially dry, until tacky.^{[4]XResearch source}
Brush the paint over the still tacky glue, and allow time to dry.
It may take several hours for it to appear, after the glue and paint completely dry.^{[5]XResearch source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Distressing Wood

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Pour nails or screws into a sock, and hit the wood until it reaches your desired level of distress.^{[6]XResearch source}
Soft strikes with a hammer will create small divots in the wood, while a mallet will make wider impressions.^{[7]XResearch source}
This will remove areas of stain and give the wood a rough texture, as is likely to occur in a natural setting over time.
4
Make "wormholes" with drywall screws hammered into a 2x4. If you want to give your wood the appearance of having been eaten by worms over many decades, you can try to give it wormholes yourself. Hammer or screw the drywall nails into the 2x4 completely so that their ends stick through the bottom of your makeshift hammer. Next, strike the piece of wood with your wormhole hammer repeatedly, creating small puncture marks.^{[8]XResearch source}
- To create a more interesting wormhole pattern, be sure to hammer your drywall screws into the 2x4 in an irregular pattern. Turn the wormhole hammer around and strike your wood at different angles to create a more natural looking effect.

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Question
What are some other methods to distress wood furniture?
Jeff Huynh
Professional Handyman
Jeff Huynh is the owner of Moseybolt, a full service solution in home services, renovations, and repair in the Greater Seattle area. He has over five years of handyman experience. He has a BS in Business Administration from the San Francisco State University and his Certificate in Industrial Electronics Technology from North Seattle College.
Jeff Huynh
Professional Handyman
Expert Answer
You can use a blowtorch to torch the edges of the wood so that it appears darkened. A belt sander creates rough edges or you can use an angle grinder. It turns into an art form. There are many different ways.
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Can I buy stains at the hardware store?
Community Answer
Yes, you can.
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I used the vinegar and steel wool and it turned out more of an orange color. Why would this be?
Community Answer
The longer the wool is left in the vinegar, the more likely it will oxidize and cause the wool to rust. That is probably the reason for the orange shade.
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Tips

Different types of wood's age and stain differently. For example, pine wood turns a grayish-brown while redwood becomes a deep shade of sienna brown when using the vinegar-steel wool solution.
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Before aging your own wood, ask around for real aged wood from old barns or houses. Many people have unused aged wood left on their property that you can buy or use with much less work.
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Lumber supply companies and art supply companies often offer "aged" or "pre-distressed" wood for sale.
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