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How to Age Wood. It's easy to age wood with common household items. You will need A solid
piece of quality wood A chain, a rock, or keys Sandpaper Paintbrushes Strong, cold coffee
or tea Dirt or coffee grounds Wood stain Lacquer Lye (optional) and safety gear (optional).
Lye is a hazardous chemical. Never mix lye with aluminum. Wear safety glasses, chemical-resistant
gloves, and a vapor-resistant mask when using lye. Step 1. Distress the wood by beating
the surface with a chain, rock, keys, or other implement that will scar the surface. Lye
will also change wood's color, texture, and appearance, but is caustic and can cause chemical
burns. Step 2. Sand the wood lightly to smooth any rough spots. Step 3. Brush on coffee or
tea with a paintbrush to add a patina to the wood surface. Aged wood typically has dark
spots from handling and air exposure. Step 4. Rub dirt or coffee grounds into the wood
surface once it has dried completely. This further accentuates the distressed areas in
the wood. Step 5. Brush on wood stain with a clean paintbrush. Step 6. Apply a coat of
lacquer using a clean paintbrush after allowing stain to dry completely. The lacquer seals
the wood and gives a finished look. Did you know Did you know? In 2008, Scientists in
Sweden identified a 9,500-year-old spruce as the world's oldest living tree.