How to Age Wood to Gray
Aged wood develops a silvery gray color over time. This coloration is due to oxidation and exposure to the elements. The wood fades from its natural beige color to a washed-out gray color. Speed up this graying process and transform your wood from new to gray using household ingredients.
![](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/178/66/89695430.jpg)
The technique works well for matching new wood to older pieces or giving a distressed, antique look to a craft project.
Things You Will Need
- Steel wool pad
- 2 glass jars
- White vinegar
- Black teabag
- Boiling water
- Paintbrush
Tip
Adjust the gray color by sanding the wood after the solution has dried. The more you sand, the lighter the color will be.
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Tear the steel wool pad into tiny pieces and place them into the glass jar.
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Fill the jar with vinegar. The steel wool should be completely covered with vinegar.
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Close the jar and set it aside for one full day. As it sits, the vinegar will partially dissolve the steel wool.
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Put the teabag into another glass jar and pour boiling water over the top. Allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes.
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Dip the paintbrush into the tea and paint the wood. Cover every surface with tea. Allow the tea to dry.
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Brush the vinegar steel solution onto the wood after the tea has dried. The two solutions will react, creating a gray color.
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Allow the wood to dry completely.
The Drip Cap
- Aged wood develops a silvery gray color over time.
- Tear the steel wool pad into tiny pieces and place them into the glass jar.
- Cover every surface with tea.
- Brush the vinegar steel solution onto the wood after the tea has dried.
References
Writer Bio
Ava Perez cut her journalism teeth in 2005 while balancing her university studies with a voracious appetite for fashion, music and beauty. Her music reviews, interviews and editorials have been published in numerous magazines worldwide. She specializes in writing beauty, health and fitness-related articles for various websites. Perez holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from York University.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
- Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
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