How To Make Wood Look Weathered
If you don't have time to wait 20, 30, or 50 years for your wood to look weathered and aged then you'll want to read this blog.
You can make your new wood look aged in minutes using this simple recipe.
Like most things, if their is a market for it there is a product out there that will do it for you. The only problem is that it will cost you more to buy it.
That is the same case for wood aging or weathering accelerator solutions.
You can buy it ready made off the shelf for a premium price or you can play around and create your own recipe.
That is exactly what many people are doing, making their own solutions with off the shelf ingredients.
Now similar to our DIY Chalk Paint blog sometimes buying the ready made is worth the price. Especially if you are only planning to do 1 or 2 little projects.
It may not be worth your time and effort trying to figure out which recipe or process works best for you.
We used ready made products when we renovated our laundry/mud room for the shelf and coat hooks.
That's where paying the premium for ready made comes in, the companies that make the products have already done all the testing and removed all of the guess work to some extent.
There's always going to be some surprises with the ready-made solutions as different woods will react differently to some extent.
There is no big secret on how to make a wood weathering accelerator.
All you do is take white vinegar and add some steel wool. The finer the steel wool the better.
There are no ratios or amounts to be concerned about as long as you make as much as you need for your project.
The key to perfecting your desired look is not by the amount of ingredients rather than the amount of time you leave the steel wool in the vinegar.
Stuff You Will Need To Make Your Weathered Wood Accelerator
Materials
- White Vinegar
- Steel Wool -The finest #0000 is ideal
Tools
- Paint Brush
- Mixing Jar or Bucket
- Stir Stick
- Sand Paper
Instructions
- Choose the amount of White Vinegar you think you will need for your project
- Poor the vinegar into a jar and add a bundle of steel wool
- Let the mixture sit for 24 to 72 hrs for desired effect. In my video I showed how it looks every half hour for 2 hrs and then 24 hrs after letting soak. The longer you leave the steel wool soak the darker red it will become.
- Once your mixture has reached the desired color you can apply it to your wood with a standard paint brush. Apply a generous amount and let the excess drip off or wipe off. Let dry for at least 30 to 60 minutes to have a good idea on what the finished color will be. You may apply a second thin coat to darken the tint.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cheap
- Easy to Make
- Easy to Apply
- Water Clean-up
- Off the Shelf Materials
Cons
- You need to prepare the solution ahead of time, 24 to 72 hrs ahead.
- The color outcome may differ from one mixture to the next depending on how much you dilute the mixture and how long you leave the steel wool in the vinegar
We hope that this will help you on some of your future projects and would love to hear if you have used any of the off the shelf ready made mixture or made your own. Leave a comment below, we love to hear form you.