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    Emily Fazio

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I Reacted Prematurely, This DIY Stain Rules

December 12, 2012

My premature assumption that apple cider vinegar stain was a failure was just that. Premature. I’m still not entirely sure how the tutorials that I referred to could claim that steel-wool-infused stain is insta-wood changing after soaking for just 24 hours (or less!), because I’ll tell you this, it was clearly not to maximized potency in that short a period of time:

But it did work. It worked for me after I let the jar of vinegar and steel sit, soak, mull, infuse for two weeks. Two weeks! Almost half a month! 336 hours! For real.

If you’re willing to wait awhile longer to obtain nice, darkened vinegar, I ask you to give this a second chance. Just look at how dark that stain is now, you previously misinformed people.

Testing cider stain #2.

It was seriously different than the first time I attempted making this stain, wherein I virtually mangled the little footstool that Julia uses to reach the sink. The new stain went on visibly darker than the stain which had only sat for a day. It wasn’t grainy either; it was almost gray, and definitely distinguished itself against the raw pine immediately not just wet.

Wedding table stain test.

It got better as it dried, darkening considerably and proving to be exactly what we hoped it would be.

Testing apple cider vinegar stain again. Much darker result!

And with that said, we’ve been brewin’ us up a brand new pot of DIY stain happiness with a half-gallon of apple cider vinegar and three wads of fine steel wool in the largest of the lidded decor vases that I owned.

DIY bulk stain made of steel wool and apple cider vinger.

Wedding table staining to commence pronto. Stay tuned.

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Emily
I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. You can find me writing for HGTV and DIY Network, follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

3 Comments


Katharine
December 12, 2012 at 11:39 am
Reply

Good to know! I’ve been wanting to try this technique on something.
\



Cait @ Hernando Hosue
December 13, 2012 at 9:03 am
Reply

Oh good! Can’t wait to see the wedding tables!

I wonder if it would work on our new fence… I’m currently debating whether to let it weather naturally or painting/staining it.



Peanut Butter Boy
May 2, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Reply

Do you think the full 2 weeks are necessary? And was the steel wool completely dissolved? It looks great!



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  • HI, I’m Emily

    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

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