Varathane 331305 Aged Wood Accelerator, Quart, Brown

Of all the stains ever used this is by far the best product I've come across. Too bad it doesn't come in gallon cans as I have 54, 2 x 10 rafters to stain. It stirs up quickly and you will need to get the copper colored agent off the bottom as most cans seem to have a long shelf life before purchase and subsequent settling. It soaks almost immediately into pine and dries so quickly that an 18 ft. rafter is dry at the beginning before you reach the other end. (disclaimer: this is at 9,200 ft. elevation and in the sunlight.) Great for me as I can top coat it with urethane after 15 minutes. How a water based agent can dry so quickly is amazing. Stain is for an "Aged Wood" look. Don't know exactly what constitutes aged wood but on pine it is a dark brown effect. It soaks in so fast you have to be quick on the draw with your brush to even out what you are laying down on the wood or else you will have a darker stain mark if left for even 10 seconds. Experimenting with using a roller vs. brush has pros and cons. A smooth surface roller is faster but leaves unstained areas with minor depressions in the wood surface. Using a thicker roller lays down too much stain and uneven darker/lighter areas and the fast drying makes it difficult to blend the dark to light areas. A brush is best as you can work in 2 ft. increments and keep a more consistent look to the stain by feathering the previous patch with the current.

This stain was easy to apply with foam brushes. However, I missed a few spots, and as a beginner, I discovered that touch-ups are challenging because the touch-up area has two coats in some places, making it noticeable. But that was the stain applicator’s fault. Despite this, it created a beautiful dark color on some construction-grade Douglas fir beams. The stain absorbed into the wood, leaving no residue to wipe off.

Make sure to sand with 180 or higher before application. (Too coarse, and there is too much absorption.) After applying completely, but not too wet, with a foam brush, wipe with paper towel, with the grain, within a minute to get rid of drips, sags, over-application, etc. After about twenty minutes, you will have a well-aged piece of wood. If you do not wipe off the excess, you may have a patina that is darker than desired and splotchy. And if you don't wait twenty minutes to evaluate the depth of the patina, you may think you have made the surface too dark. Be patient.

Really like this product. It turns out so pretty. It's easy to apply and clean up.is a breeze. I applied it over a gray color dresser.. it came out a lovely brown look. Would buy again.

It is very watery thin but goes on well and easy. Easy to blend in. Wish it was thicker. Looks amazing.

I've used this on lots of projects.I love it.

I rarely do reviews but this stuff is so amazing could not pass it up! The finish is exactly what I was looking for and application is easy & dries quickly! These are going on industrial pipe shelving unit for our laundry room that has a hardwood accent wall, I just installed — so these boards have the browns and hints of gray to compliment the aesthetic of the design!

I am working on a project with pallet wood. Wanting the wood to have an aged look, I purchased this item. It was super easy to apply and the color change happened within 5 minutes of rubbing the stain on the wood. I have purchased multiple products similar to this and this is my favorite by far.

Fantastic product, will be ordering several more tons later, neighbours commenting on the finish and where did I buy it, excellent.