Tried a vinegar and steel wool stain on a maple table and it went purple

Honestly, I was working on a 1960s maple table for a client in Boise and wanted a gray weathered look. I mixed up a jar with some 0000 steel wool and white vinegar, let it sit for 48 hours, and brushed it on. Instead of gray, the whole top turned this weird purple color that the client hated. Has anyone else had this reaction with maple, and what's a better way to get a solid gray finish on it?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark3611mo ago

So the tannins in maple cause that purple color?

ruby4501mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, maple can go purple with that vinegar and steel wool trick. It's the tannins in the wood reacting weird. For a solid gray, I'd use a commercial gray stain or dye instead, it's way more predictable.

patricia_mason1mo ago

Ever try a pre-stain wood conditioner first? I had that same purple mess on a maple table leg. A good coat of conditioner before the gray dye evened it right out and gave a perfect, flat color. The dye soaks in way more evenly that way.