Tea Staining

Think that staining wood means stinky lacquers, rubber gloves, and long drying times? Think again!
I'll show you how to stain wood to look weathered and old, with nothing more than household items, and with results achieved in a fraction of the time.

Naturally aged wood has a great faded look that occurs from oxidization; this is usually achieved by leaving the wood outside, exposed to the elements until it has a faded, aged patina. Depending on the type of wood and weather conditions this can take weeks, even months. Luckily there is a simple method to achieve almost the same results and it can be done in a few days, instead of weeks. Though this Instructable is called tea staining, it's actually the steel that's doing the staining.

This classic woodworking trick uses three common household ingredients: vinegar, steel wool, and tea. The best part about these ingredients is that even close substitutes work well!
Don't have white vinegar? Use any other type of vinegar.
Don't have steel wool? Use any other steel bits (staples, nails, shavings, etc.)
Don't have tea?...what's wrong with you?!

The process is easy:

• Pull apart steel wool and submerge in container of vinegar for 10 hours or more
• Steep tea for 1 hour (any temperature water will do)
• Brush steeped tea onto bare wood, ensure complete saturation - let dry completely
• Brush vinegar + steel wool solution into tea-saturated wood

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Why does it work?

• Tea has tannin, a bitter astringent that occurs naturally in many plants.
• Tannin is also found in many other organics, such as wood. Wood with high tannin content does not need the tea solution
• Brushing wood with tea adds more tannin, allowing the vinegar/steel solution to have a stronger reaction.
• When steel wool is combined with an acedic acid (vinegar) it causes the steel to oxidize (rust), making iron acetate
• When iron acetate reacts with the tannins and turns the wood a dark colour.

Making iron acetate produces hydrogen gas, do not seal containers and keep in a ventilated area.
Staining will occur mostly on wood surface, be careful if you need to sand afterwards.
The tannin content of the wood is the predominate factor in the darkness of the stain. Experiment, and have fun!

Looking for more ways to distress wood?
Check out my easy guide for 9 ways to distress wood!

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Have you used this technique to stain wood? I want to see it!
Share a picture in the comments below of your tea staining and get a free Pro Membership to Instructables!