Saturday

Aged Wood Table (and a tutorial)

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Once it was this...
...along with 2 chairs at a tag sale, I think it's safe to say it  begged me to take it home!
I painted the legs a dark teal and then sanded the ugly top until my arms nearly fell off.

I can rock some 80's hair and seriously love me some 80's music, 
but I CANNOT do 80's orange oak.   
(so I did this...)

 
To get the look
of aged wood:

things you'll need:
sanded/bare wood
tea (about 6 bags)
glass jar with lid
steel wool
vinegar (2 to 3 cups)
disposable bowl or paint tray
old paintbrush
Minwax Polycrylic for finish


1) Sand or strip the wood so that it's completely bare and free of paint, stain, or sealer.

2) Make the "wash" that will age the wood.  Use a glass jar with a lid (I used and old pasta sauce jar).  Add a steel wool pad and cover it completely with vinegar.  Let this mixture sit in a jar and bubble for 2 days.

 
3) Next, stain your wood with tea.  I used 6 teabags for this and had some left over, it doesn't take much for a tabletop this size.


Here's what it looked like after I'd done about half with the tea stain.  I ended up giving it 2 coats of tea.


4) Once the table is dry, pour the vinegar mixture in a disposable bowl and use and old paintbrush to wash your wood with the mixture. *WARNING: SMELLS BAD*  Try to coat it evenly.  As it dries it'll darken and you'll begin to see the beauty of the grain and a lot of variation in the color.  Presto Chango!


The first coat left it dark and really dry/chalky looking.  I did a second coat (outdoors, at the request of my nose) and after a few minutes it looked like this.


3) I sanded lightly with a fine sanding block to get rid of any bubble marks.



4) Once it was completely dry, I sealed the top using a very light coat of Minwax Polycrylic.  Make sure to use the best brush to minimize the brush strokes and to avoid "pulling" of the finish.

The end result is a deep, warm charcoal color that looks different in every light!

 
I decided to repaint the table legs and chairs antique white to let the top really stand out.


Then I added a beautiful transfer courtesy of The Graphics Fairy, and finished with another coat of Polycrylic.


 
Remember the before?

The afters (cloudy day)

(Sunny day)
 

Tips to getting this look:
- make sure your steel wool is STEEL!
- use a glass jar - I used an old pasta sauce jar and it made about plenty.
- make sure the steel wool is completely covered by the vinegar, unless you're also wanting to add a rust color.
- this is a stain.  It left stains on my hands and floor (not permanent luckily) but be careful.
- don't wipe the wood down with a WET cloth after sanding, or you'll have to rewash it with the mixture. (trust me)
- the mixture is really smelly.  I thought since it was basically an all-natural method I could do it indoors, but it's clearly a chemical reaction not to be messed with. The smell made me gag (not kidding)!
- various vinegars and various wood types will produce different colored results. (I've been experimenting! More aged wood projects to come.)
 

I'd love to see the end result if you're trying this!  Send me your pictures and I'll update this post with them!


My table was featured here!!!  Yay!!
Shine Your Light

Linking this tutorial here:
DIY Club The Graphics Fairy Ninth Street Notions Photobucket Tip Junkie handmade projects HookingupwithHoH Photobucket Photobucket shabby creek cottage Furniture Feature Fridays Redoux Chic on a Shoestring Decorating Funky Junk's Sat Nite Special
One Project Closer

35 comments:

  1. I love this Lori! Can you come do it to my ugly orange kitchen table? I've been thinking about painting it red and distressing it. While you're at it will you restain all the honey oak in my house? It'd be easier to move. Cathy

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  2. Thanks!!! I'd love to do your table! (but I bet you could do it and red would be awesome!!) I've seen your house - it's beautiful! Isn't it funny how once you decide to update one thing, all of the sudden EVERYTHING needs a little "work"? I do mean my house, too, not my wrinkles! I lay awake at night thinking of the possibilities! ha!

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    1. Ha! You're funny! It's exhausting. I want to do a so much, but don't have time. I look at blogs and try to pick the most realistic ideas for me to try. Maybe someday I will tackle a big project. Keep blogging and I'll live vicariously through you!

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    2. It's a deal! Just promise to take lots of before and after pics and then you can come do a guest post!!!

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  3. Lori this is amazing! New follower from the graphics fairy. Would love a follow back to http://imnotatrophywife.com laura
    great project!

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  4. ps how did you do the transfer.. everyone has a different process and I have not had luck on some projects... thanks

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  5. Laura, hi! I wanted this to be really subtle, so I just printed the reverse transfer onto freezer paper and then placed it face-down on the wood and rubbed. I almost wish it wasn't SO subtle, but I think because I'd already put on a coat of poly, it didn't come off as well. (and it doesn't show up in the photos all that well either) It really dresses up the table and chairs - I just wish I'd thought of it beforehand! I've done the citisolv method as well, but I have a hard time finding a place that can print using the right kind of ink! Thanks for visiting!! - L

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  6. I love the table redo, yeah, I doubt that I could have done the retro orange either. Lol. I love the transfer on the table (even though you said it turned out light) and on the chairs. Great touch! Great job! : )..

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    1. Thanks so much! As much as I love orange, that color of stain just had to go! Thanks for visiting! - Lori

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  7. that looks fabulous! i really love how the top turned out!

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  8. Wow...what a transformation! You would pay A LOT for that in the store! Off topic: I'm a newbie and was wondering how you got your buttons for the link parties lined up like that? Thanks and I look forward to reading your blog! http://cathhasablog.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks! I'm hoping someone will take it home! I'm going to send you an email right now!

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  9. Love it! I like the white legs of the table and chairs. Great job. Can't wait to see what else you come up with.

    Holly

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    1. Holly, thanks so much!! (and thanks for visiting! - Lori

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  10. This is so awesome! Beautiful transformation. Followed over here from HoH's party! We'd love to have you submit it over on our (very first!) party this weekend too!

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    1. Kim, thanks! I just linked up! Congrats on your first party! - L

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  11. I haven't seen an aging tutorial with vinegar. Love it! thanks so much for sharing. The table looks wonderful.

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    1. Maryann, thank so much for your kind words!! Stay tuned, I have lots of fun stuff coming up! - Lori

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  12. It looks amazing. From cheap to vintage looking. Love it! Lisa~

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    1. Lisa, thanks so much!! The best part is that it looks better in person (but that doesn't speak well for my photo skills - ha) Thanks for visiting! - L

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  13. I have always wanted one of these tables. You have done an amazing job. Thank you so much for sharing. What a beautiful space you have created my very first visit here I will follow on my way out so I know my path back here. Perhaps you will find the time to come visit me soon and do the same. I look forward to engaging more throughout the year and beyond. Take care. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and for visiting!! - Lori

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  14. totally awesome! Too bad I didn't know this before I got rid of our old dining room table! hmph.

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    1. Kammy, thanks! I hear you... I was thinking about a couple of other pieces that I should've finished this way!!! Glad you like it! - L

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  15. Love how your table and chairs turned out! I'm such a fan of dark wood and white paint!
    thanks for linking up and linking back to catch as catch can!
    gail

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  16. Gail, thanks for stopping by! I love the dark/light contrast too! I can't wait to use it again on another piece! - Lori

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  17. What you've made with the vinegar and steel wool is called a vinegaroon. It is used very often in leatherwork to permanently dye leather. And "dye" is not really an accurate depiction of how a vinegaroon works.

    What the final vinegar solution does is react with the tannins in the wood (or leather), permanently changing their chemical makeup. The more tannins in the wood, the darker and more black the vinegaroon will change the color. You used a trick that a lot of leather workers use, which is to first stain the piece with tea or coffee to increase the tannin level. For wood, this is key, because, while there are tannins in bare wood, there aren't nearly enough to create a good reaction with the vinegaroon. The stronger the tea, the more tannins, and the darker the final product will be after vinegaroon application.

    Also, a tip for making the vinegaroon- use the finest steel wool you can find, and poke some holes in the lid to allow gasses to escape. If you don't, you could find a broken jar. This is the kind of thing you want to leave in your garage or a covered area outside.

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    1. Hey, thanks for the great info and tips! I had read about this process years ago on a woodworking website and I wasn't even sure if I remembered the "recipe" correctly, but the results were beautiful so I just had to share! I also used the wash on some pallet wood (see newer post) without the tea stain first and I was surprised at how dark it turned out - possibly just the difference in wood type. Thanks again for stopping by! - Lori

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  18. This is just gorgeous! Thank you for sharing, and thank you so much for sharing the recipe. I can't wait to find a piece to try this on!

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    1. Thank you!! I've been having a lot of fun with it - trying different lengths of time that it bubbles, etc. and I'm amazed at how well it works! Thanks for visiting! - Lori

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  19. Lori, your table looks GREAT! I have wanted to try that steel wool method and can't wait to do it after reading your tutorial. I especially love how you can rock 80's hair and 80s music but not 80s orange oak - I am so with ya sister!!
    Thanks for linking up to Before & After at Shine Your Light - so fun to see the transformation! Please come join with another project in February :)

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    1. Lisa, thanks! We'll have to compare '80's hair pictures sometime - ha! I'll be there in Feb!! - Lori

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  20. Lori, My husband and I are re-doing a dining room table this weekend using your instructions on here. Do you mind if I give you credit and link back when I post about it on my little blog? If you have the time please let me know. Have a wonderful weekend! ~ Jamie

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  21. Your woodworking plans will become fruitful only if you are aware of the available budget, and are able to use innovative ideas of creating marvelous wood craft designs to add attractiveness to you woodwork project.

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