Ever thought about making your own wood stain, but you weren’t quite sure how?
Well, let me tell you.
It’s actually pretty easy!
Here’s a couple of videos I made that show you how to quickly & easily make some using supplies you probably already have in your house.
Iron Acetate:
This first method creates a more traditional brown stain that deepens in color as it ages. It’s simply made from household vinegar and steel wool that soak together in a jar. It creates something called Iron Acetate that reacts with the tannins in wood (the stuff that gives wood it’s darker, reddish brown color) to create a really beautiful, easy to apply stain.
The other cool thing about this is that different types of wood react differently producing colors ranging from browns, to grays, and even near black. I actually tested it on a few different types of wood in this video over an extended period of time, so you can see how it gets darker over time.
Color Wash:
The second method is just as easy to make as the first, and you can make any stain color imaginable. It’s made from a mixture of regular, household, latex paint (like you’d use to paint a wall) and water. You can play with the ratio to create lighter and darker tones, and it applies easily with a rag or sponge. You can also apply extra coats to slightly deepen the color as well.
(*** I forgot to mention in the video, but I recommend running the stain through a paint or coffee filter before you apply it to your wood, to get rid of any floating globs of paint for a smoother, more consistent stain color.)
So there you go… pretty easy, right?
Both types are easy to make, and like any other stain, it’s always a good idea to test them out first before going full-on hoggy with your project.
Give them a shot. Tell me what you think!
Later!
– Kevin
){kind=link}
Hi, how do you stop the effects? IE: when it gets to the color I want do it spray water on it? Do I apply my poly?
The stain works by a chemical reaction, so you can’t really “stop” it at the color you want in the jar. I haven’t tested it out yet, but I’m thinking that you could possibly strain out the steel wool when the color looks good (maybe just pour the stain through a paint strainer or even coffee filter?), and it might help slow it down a bit. I’ve just been using it straight out of the jar when it reaches the color I want and let the board dry. The stain will leave a little bit of a powdery finish on top, but I just brush right over it with poly to seal it. I’ve also tried wipe on poly, spray lacquer, and furniture wax, and they’ve all worked as well. Once the stain is on the board and cleared, the color should be locked in. I haven’t noticed any of the pieces I’ve stained change color over time, and I’ve had a few of the pieces for several years now.
I think I’m finally ready to make my own stain. Just had a couple of questions. What’s the maximum length of time to leave the steel wool in for? And is the stain good for, basically, ever? Wanting a dark stain and a medium one. Thanks so much! Loving your videos! -Christi
This stain works because of a reaction between the steel wool and the vinegar. Once it starts, it continues to “brew” until it’s nearly black. What’s cool is that it’s simple and cheap, but the drawback is that you can’t really keep it at the color you want for long, since it will continue to deepen in color over time. The steel wool eventually rusts away until it disappears if you never take it out. I haven’t tested it, but you might be able to slow down the color change by pulling out the wad of steel wood and then running the liquid through a strainer (coffee filter?) to get rid of all the steel wood bits. If you want two different colors, I’d make two jars and let the darker one brew longer. Just test them every once in a while until they’re the color you want, then use them once you get there.