From Farmer Brown's Plow Shop

[Cooler]

This finish recipe from Farmer Brown's Plow Shop. Is it familiar to anyone?

How to make your handles have that
old look

Fill a half gallon empty can or mason jar with
vinegar and 5 pads of 4/0 steel wool

2 Let set for two days for medium stain or 4
days for darker stain. Pour stain into a new
container
using a strainer
3 Sand wood with coarse sandpaper for better
wood penetration..
4 Apply with brush, until wood is fully penetrated
with stain.
5 After wood has completely dried, wax with
Minwax and polish with a towel.
6 If you want and aged finish, distress the
wood,sanding,then applying stain..


http://www.farmerbrownsplowshop.net/handles.html

[Howard Acheson]

That is a very common "home brew" stain and has been used for years.

Google "vinegar and steel wood stain" for lots of info.

[MichaelMouse]

Worked best for me when I followed advice to wash the wool in MS. Got rid of the oil.

[sonofbluegrass]

It works differently on different woods, largely based on tanin content. A pre-wash with strong tea will make it darker. It also acts differently if it is old versus freshly made. Color varies from brownish to black to a sort of off green and it will darken veg tanned leather but also dry the leather (resulting in an old cracked look).

ron