Homemade Stain – Steel Wool

homemade stain steel wool

This is homemade that makes sense.  I buy a lot of wood stain, and in general, it isn't very cheap.  With this DIY project, you can save a ton of money, and have the satisfaction of creating something useful.  

How Does It Work?

The chemical formula is: 4Fe + 3O2 = 2Fe2O3

Clears things right up doesn't it....maybe not?  

That reddish-brown crud we call "rust" is all around us, yet we probably rarely think much about it. It turns out what we call rust is a chemical process that combines iron (Fe) and oxygen (O) to form iron oxide."

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During this reaction the iron atoms are passing electrons to the oxygen atoms, a transfer that is called oxidation. In the process the atoms are bound together forming rust.  

When rust and vinegar react with the tannins in the wood they create the color or shade we see similar to stain.  

Fun Fact: Tannins or Tannic Acid is also responsible for making wine, which is why wine is created in wood barrels! ​


What You'll Need

1. Gather Ingredients

Just a few tips...  

Use white vinegar.  Although, using balsamic or red cider vinegar will give you a darker stain, varying rest times makes white vinegar the most versatile.  Essentially, if you let your stain mixture rest longer you can achieve the same shade as with other types of vinegars.  

Make sure you get fine or extra fine steel wool (not SOS pads).  This helps the steel wool to break down quicker.  

Ensure whatever type of jar you use has a sealable lid.  Vinegar has a strong odor.   

homemade stain steel wool

2. Measure Vinegar

Using a measuring cup, pour two cups of vinegar into the mason jar.  Keep in mind, this isn't an exact science, so play around with different measurements and ratios to get your desired stain.  

homemade stain steel wool

3. Insert Steel Wool

Remove 1 steel wool pad from the package and begin tearing it apart (approximately 8 pieces), placing the pieces into the mason jar.  

homemade stain steel wool
homemade stain steel wool

4. Let It Rest

It's time for the steel wool to begin the breaking down process in the vinegar.  Patience...

homemade stain steel wool

5. Determine Rest Time

The awesome thing about making your own steel wool stain is the wide variety of shades you can achieve by varying the rest time.  

Essentially, as the steel wool soaks in the vinegar, it begins to break down into rust.  The longer you wait, the more pronounced the rust will become in the shade of your stain.  

The shades will vary from a light grey to a rich brown.  ​

homemade stain steel wool

Here is an example of using only half the steel wool pad.  In comparison, the stains will have a subtle transparency, as opposed to a full bodied color.  

Depending on the rest time you might need to sift out leftover steel wool particles using the some coffee filters.  ​

homemade stain steel wool

6. Apply Stain

The stain will go on clear at first.  Just make sure you get maximum coverage.  

homemade stain steel wool

As you can see the clear application turns into a very visible shade after it dries.  

homemade stain steel wool

Reference the examples below for different color variations based on how long the steel wool breaks down in the vinegar.  

For instance, wait only 12 hours for the "driftwood" or weathered look, or a few weeks for a much darker "walnut" shade.

homemade stain steel wool

I made a comparison chart (in hours) below.  

homemade stain steel wool

The cool thing about this stain is that it basically dries similar to water.  It only takes a few minutes. The smell will go away in a few hours as well.  Naturally, adding polyurethane will seal the stain and protect the wood.

Give it a try, and as always, have fun! 


Watch the full tutorial from Mr. DIY Dork.

Click here for more cool projects.
About Brandon Potters

Hi, I’m Brandon and I can’t express how excited I am that you chose The Saw Guy as your resource for project ideas, tool reviews, and all-around guide to the world of DIY. I spent years in the construction industry refining my knowledge of various trades and even spent a few years working at a major hardware store. ​If there is anyone who can help you make a well-informed, unbiased, budget-conscious decision, it’s me and my team.

2 thoughts on “Homemade Stain – Steel Wool”

  1. Loved how this worked. However, I splattered it on the side of our trailer by accident with the brush and Im wondering if there is a solution to get that off.

    Thanks

    Reply
  2. I tried this and it turned out really great. I was wondering if there is a way to lighten the shade. I left it go too long and it is darker than I would like.

    Reply

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