How to Stain Wood With Balsamic Vinegar

by Holly Lefevre

A few months ago, I wrote about how to stain wood with a combination of steel wool and apple cider vinegar. Every since that experiment I have been using the method for my custom signs and other projects. I wanted to experiment a bit more to see what other natural stains I could use and what other colors I could come up with. I love the way the Balsamic Vinegar reacts with the steel wool and the color of stain this combination makes. I have used this stain on untreated pine. I use this stain on plain boards BEFORE assembling them into signs, crates, etc. Here is where you can find the Hometalk post on apple cider vinegar: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/age-or-stain-wood-with-vinegar-2524453

With a few simple supplies you can stain wood naturally

how to stain wood with balsamic vinegar, painted furniture, woodworking projects, Supplies Real Steel Wool I used 0000 grade 1 cup balsamic vinegar 1 cup water Jar Gloves Paint brush it does not have to be a good one

Supplies: *(Real) Steel Wool (I used 0000 grade) *1 cup balsamic vinegar *1 cup water *Jar *Gloves *Paint brush ( it does not have to be a good one)

how to stain wood with balsamic vinegar, painted furniture, woodworking projects, This is an example of what the stain looked like when wet top and after drying bottom

This is an example of what the stain looked like when wet (top) and after drying (bottom).

how to stain wood with balsamic vinegar, painted furniture, woodworking projects, Combine 1 cup Balsamic Vinegar 1 Cup water and 1 Pad of Steel Wool in a jar with a lid Let sit for at least 24 hours I tested my stain every 24 hours until I had the color I desired It took one week

Combine 1 cup Balsamic Vinegar, 1 Cup water, and 1 Pad of Steel Wool in a jar (with a lid). Let sit for at least 24 hours. I tested my stain every 24 hours until I had the color I desired. It took one week.

how to stain wood with balsamic vinegar, painted furniture, woodworking projects, Simply paint the stain on untreated boards I used pine boards Let it dry thoroughly and rinse and let dry again

Simply paint the stain on untreated boards (I used pine boards). Let it dry thoroughly, and rinse (and let dry again)

This is the beautiful grayish color of the wood after staining.

how to stain wood with balsamic vinegar, painted furniture, woodworking projects, Here is a sample showing the difference between the two vinegar stains The top is the Balsamic Vinegar and the bottom is the Apple Cider Vinegar

Here is a sample showing the difference between the two vinegar stains. The top is the Balsamic Vinegar and the bottom is the Apple Cider Vinegar.

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Frequently asked questions

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3 of 4 questions

Ccq4758044 on Feb 23, 2016
Holly: I just stained my dresser with vinegar and steel wool..Now I want to give it a shine, can I use polyuerathane satin finish on it?

2
Kimberly Taylor Herrick on Mar 28, 2016
Staining wood with vinegars: does this attract bugs?

1
Tania Johnson on Nov 06, 2023

I have sanded our white oak dinner table to raw wood and want this color. I'm wondering how the diffferent wood would look.

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3 of 31 comments

Holly Lefevre on Sep 26, 2015
I tested it every day out of the jar into a scrap piece of wood. I let the stain sit for the week in the same jar.

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Pri2700631 on Oct 21, 2015
Does the wood need to be fine sanded or does that depend on the on how the wood takes the stain

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- Holly Lefevre on Oct 21, 2015
  @Priss006 I usually just do my project on the wood without sanding. Often a give it a light sanding (mainly because I use it for rustic signs) after I finish my project. If your wood is really rough or the process brings out some roughness, a light sanding might be good before proceeding.
  
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