Windows
Old Oak
I’d like to try out some wood staining (mainly on oak), but wondered if there’s a good place to get small quantities of stain from so I can compare colours. How do you get into this?
-
Hi all and welcome to TheWoodHaven2 brought into the 21st Century, kicking and screaming! We all have Alasdair to thank for the vast bulk of the heavy lifting to get us here, no more so than me because he's taken away a huge burden of responsibility from my shoulders and brought us to this new shiny home, with all your previous content (hopefully) still intact! Please peruse and feed back. There is still plenty to do, like changing the colour scheme, adding the banner graphic, tweaking the odd setting here and there so I have added a new thread in the 'Technical Issues, Bugs and Feature Requests' forum for you to add any issues you find, any missing settings or just anything you'd like to see added/removed from the feature set that Xenforo offers. We will get to everything over the coming weeks so please be patient, but add anything at all to the thread I mention above and we promise to get to them over the next few days/weeks/months. In the meantime, please enjoy!
Stain sample pots?
- Thread starter Windows
- Start date
Spirit Stain Sample Kit (Wood Colours) | Chestnut Products - First for Finishes
The ideal way to experiment with our wood colour range to find the right stain(s) for your job.
chestnutproducts.co.uk
Spirit Stain Sample Kit (Rainbow Colours) | Chestnut Products - First for Finishes
The ideal way to try out our Spirit Stains!
chestnutproducts.co.uk
An easy and cheap option for Oak would be some steel wool and vinegar, adjusting the concentration to compare the effect.
Steve Maskery
Old Oak
There are a number of home-made recipes for traditional wood stains.
As Chas says, steel wool in a jar of vinegar for a week or two will yield a nasty-looking slosh that works nicely on oak.
For mahogany, a few crystals of potassium permanganate dissolved in water gives a rich brown colour*
There is also something to do with walnut shells, but I forget what it is. Is that Van Dyke? I can't remember.
S
* WEAR GLOVES. If you get it on your skin you will have purple fingers for a fortnight, it doesn't wash off.
As Chas says, steel wool in a jar of vinegar for a week or two will yield a nasty-looking slosh that works nicely on oak.
For mahogany, a few crystals of potassium permanganate dissolved in water gives a rich brown colour*
There is also something to do with walnut shells, but I forget what it is. Is that Van Dyke? I can't remember.
S
* WEAR GLOVES. If you get it on your skin you will have purple fingers for a fortnight, it doesn't wash off.
Windows
Old Oak
Thanks! The wood colours one is perfect.Spirit Stain Sample Kit (Wood Colours) | Chestnut Products - First for Finishes
The ideal way to experiment with our wood colour range to find the right stain(s) for your job.
Spirit Stain Sample Kit (Rainbow Colours) | Chestnut Products - First for Finishes
The ideal way to try out our Spirit Stains!
An easy and cheap option for Oak would be some steel wool and vinegar, adjusting the concentration to compare the effect.
Windows
Old Oak
Are tea and coffee worth experimenting with for oak?
Accipiter
Nordic Pine
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2025
- Messages
- 566
- Reaction score
- 477
- Location
- Frome, Somerset
- Name
- Frank
- LOCATION
- Somerset
Quick Google for 'home made stains for oak timber' brought up this (hopefully of some use - NB You'll need to do the search to get the links yo the videos on YouTube - they haven't copied over):
Homemade stains for oak, which is high in tannins, are best created using oxidation or natural pigments. Common methods include vinegar mixed with steel wool (creates grey/ebony), strong brewed coffee or black tea (brown), or black walnut hulls. These methods are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and often produce a, rustic,,deep finish.
YouTube
YouTube
+4
Top Homemade Oak Stains
Vinegar & Steel Wool (Ebonizing): Combine 1 pad of fine-grade steel wool (diluted of oil) with 1.5 cups of white vinegar in a jar. Let it sit for 24–48 hours until the wool dissolves. This creates iron acetate, which reacts with oak’s high tannins to produce a dramatic silvery-grey or deep black finish.
Black Tea or Coffee (Tannin Booster): Brew very strong black tea or coffee. Apply directly to oak to darken it naturally. It works well as a pre-stain to add extra tannins for the vinegar mixture to react with, creating a richer, deeper color.
Coffee Grounds Stain: Mix used, dried coffee grounds with water to create a dark wash, or create a thick paste for a more intense, rustic stain, applying it to the wood and letting it sit overnight.
Acrylic Paint Stain: Mix 2 teaspoons of water with 1 teaspoon of acrylic paint for a simple, budget-friendly stain. This is versatile for customizing shades, allowing for application with a sponge and wiping away excess.
YouTube
YouTube
+5
This video demonstrates how to create a DIY wood stain using acrylic paint:
Related video thumbnail
59s
Our Upcycled Life
YouTube• 9 Apr 2025
Tips for Staining Oak
Pre-treating Oak: To make the vinegar stain darker, apply strong black tea to the oak first. The extra tannins in the tea react with the iron acetate for a richer, darker color.
Apply Multiple Coats: Apply, dry, and reapply for darker, more intense tones.
Seal the Stain: These stains are not protective, so apply a clear top coat such as polyurethane or beeswax to protect the wood, especially on frequently used items.
Safety: Always wear gloves, as natural stains like black walnut can leave stains on your skin and clothes.
YouTube
YouTube
+4
Watch this video to see how to apply the vinegar and steel wool stain to wood:
Related video thumbnail
37s
Black Forest Wood Co.
YouTube• 13 Dec 2024
DIY: Make Cheap Fast Wood Stain
23 Mar 2025 — hey everybody welcome back to the shop this is Todd with Industrial Comfort in today's video I'm going to show you how to take two...
YouTube
·
industrial comfort
4:03
This DIY Wood Finish is seriously my new favorite stain.
2 Nov 2025 — we don't care about the nut in the center all we're after is that nasty gross outside. and here's the most important part of this ...
YouTube
·
WhosTheVoss
5m
Homemade Natural Wood Stain
24 Jan 2019 — Make a simple natural wood stain with steel wool, vinegar, coffee or tea. I love using homemade natural wood stain. It is a beauti...
Houseful of Handmade
·
14:37
Homemade stains for oak, which is high in tannins, are best created using oxidation or natural pigments. Common methods include vinegar mixed with steel wool (creates grey/ebony), strong brewed coffee or black tea (brown), or black walnut hulls. These methods are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and often produce a, rustic,,deep finish.
YouTube
YouTube
+4
Top Homemade Oak Stains
Vinegar & Steel Wool (Ebonizing): Combine 1 pad of fine-grade steel wool (diluted of oil) with 1.5 cups of white vinegar in a jar. Let it sit for 24–48 hours until the wool dissolves. This creates iron acetate, which reacts with oak’s high tannins to produce a dramatic silvery-grey or deep black finish.
Black Tea or Coffee (Tannin Booster): Brew very strong black tea or coffee. Apply directly to oak to darken it naturally. It works well as a pre-stain to add extra tannins for the vinegar mixture to react with, creating a richer, deeper color.
Coffee Grounds Stain: Mix used, dried coffee grounds with water to create a dark wash, or create a thick paste for a more intense, rustic stain, applying it to the wood and letting it sit overnight.
Acrylic Paint Stain: Mix 2 teaspoons of water with 1 teaspoon of acrylic paint for a simple, budget-friendly stain. This is versatile for customizing shades, allowing for application with a sponge and wiping away excess.
YouTube
YouTube
+5
This video demonstrates how to create a DIY wood stain using acrylic paint:
Related video thumbnail
59s
Our Upcycled Life
YouTube• 9 Apr 2025
Tips for Staining Oak
Pre-treating Oak: To make the vinegar stain darker, apply strong black tea to the oak first. The extra tannins in the tea react with the iron acetate for a richer, darker color.
Apply Multiple Coats: Apply, dry, and reapply for darker, more intense tones.
Seal the Stain: These stains are not protective, so apply a clear top coat such as polyurethane or beeswax to protect the wood, especially on frequently used items.
Safety: Always wear gloves, as natural stains like black walnut can leave stains on your skin and clothes.
YouTube
YouTube
+4
Watch this video to see how to apply the vinegar and steel wool stain to wood:
Related video thumbnail
37s
Black Forest Wood Co.
YouTube• 13 Dec 2024
DIY: Make Cheap Fast Wood Stain
23 Mar 2025 — hey everybody welcome back to the shop this is Todd with Industrial Comfort in today's video I'm going to show you how to take two...
YouTube
·
industrial comfort
4:03
This DIY Wood Finish is seriously my new favorite stain.
2 Nov 2025 — we don't care about the nut in the center all we're after is that nasty gross outside. and here's the most important part of this ...
YouTube
·
WhosTheVoss
5m
Homemade Natural Wood Stain
24 Jan 2019 — Make a simple natural wood stain with steel wool, vinegar, coffee or tea. I love using homemade natural wood stain. It is a beauti...
Houseful of Handmade
·
14:37