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Cedar is a wonderful wood prized for its durability in exterior applications. When used outdoors it weathers to a gray to silver tone and has a rough texture. You can achieve this look simply by letting the elements do their job, but if you want to weather cedar faster, here's a trick I learned while in school studying furniture making.

Making the Solution

• Pour enough white vinegar in to the glass jar to fill it halfway.

• Pull the steel wool apart in to small pieces and drop them into the vinegar.

• Stir the solution with the stir stick, then put the lid on the jar loosely and let it sit overnight.outdoor play structures

Applying the Finish

• Dip the foam brush in to the vinegar and steel wool solution, making sure to let it soak into the foam brush.

• Brush the solution on to the cedar in long, even strokes. Dip the foam brush back in to the solution often.

• Wipe of the excess solution with the cotton rag. If the color isn't even, apply more solution.

• Lay the cedar out to dry for at least one hour before using it in your project.

Preparing the Cedar

• Scrub the cedar with the wire brush vigorously and on all sides. This removes the softer wood to achieve the weathered texture.

• Sand the edges of the cedar lightly with the 220-grit sandpaper. Sand just enough to gently round over each edge.

• Remove all the dust from the board's surfaces using a vacuum or dust broom.outdoor play structures

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