Aging Wood to a Silver Gray?

Hey Scott
I suggest grey solid body stain matched to you fence

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

I use Olympic’s water base Latex stain in the solid color for my out building, including the chicken coop. I’m not sure they have the grey color you are looking for but it goes on easy (with no primer) and I have never had it peel or check. It needs to be re-coated about every 5 years. I just power wash the dirt off the wood and then spray it on with an airless paint sprayer. It couldn’t be easier. New wood may take two coats.

-- Les B, Oregon

There is a natural way if you are willing to try and experiment a little.

A few years back I had to rebuild a complete deck and porch in a 170 year old log cabin in Washington state with a very limited budget and some other limitations. I was faced with exactly the same problem and I boldly decided to see what would happen when staining the wood with the material that looked the most similar to the cabin’s aged wood: ashes!

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To my own surprise, it was perfect.

I used the domestic trash that was already being burnt in place and mixed it with some water, thus making a muddy paste that I applied by hand and then let it dry. Once thoroughly dry, I brushed it off and applied some clear (mate) protection I can’t remember now. I have to tell you, even I wouldn’t believe it, it looked exactly the same as the cabin and was protected by the clear coat.

To this date, I never had any complaint about the wood getting spoiled by the finish.

Obviously, this is not something I’d try on any project but, for that specific application it was perfect. One thing to note though is that the color gets way lighter when it dries. It’s just a matter of trial and error.

Now, if you try this and screw things up, don’t call me! :o)

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin

Jojo, interesting idea there… I may give that a try.. And I may give it a try mixed in with the steel wool solution..

The solid body stain [which is basically just watered down paint] is an idea, but I still prefer something that actually ages the wood so that reapplication is not needed and it looks more true.

At any rate, I need to finish the coop this weekend as my rooster [who stays inside at night along with the others] is getting his voice.. Sounds like a blasted turkey though… Gobble gobble gobble.

Try using baking soda. I have used it for many years to age fences. Mix it with water in a fairly concentrated solution and just spray it on. Try it on a sample. It will get the graying process started quickly. Differnet woods react slower than others.

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

Thanks for the tip, John.. :)

can’t you just wait on nature taking it’s course nothing will beat the effect.If you like the grey stuff personally I do everything to avoid it ,just my choice I like things to stay new.I am a little odd that way LOL Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

I wonder if that OxyClean stuff would do it, I mean the two components to aging are oxidation which the oxy-clean (or potassium dichromate) would take care of and UV exposure, so a sunlamp and a bottle of oxyclean and you should be set to go (and then some ashes for the dirt component for good measure!)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Alistair, not sure how well the T1-11 will hold up. It’s just the 1/4” ply kind.. Nothing special.. If it was seriously good sheeting I wouldn’t worry so much. Just want to make sure it lasts while looking the way I want it to.

RE: OxyClean… I have noooooooooooooooo clue… Thought it just “cleaned”... If I had some on me, I’d try it to see how it works, but sadly I do not.

Well.. I tried the vinegar and steel wool with the light splash of muratic acid thrown in.. No joy there.. Though it was a lovely brown, for sure. Will watch and see how it ages.

I’ve got a few other methods to try once I get back into town from my trip. If anyone else has any ideas, would love to hear it.

Up next: 1) White Vinegar alone.. 2) Apple Cider Vinegar alone.. 3) White Vinegar + Ashes.. 4) A rusted nail + Vinegar..

Mo clue what will happen… Think I’ll grab a few scraps of poplar to try it on that as well, just to see if it matches what happens to the T1-11.