Country Lore: Homemade Wood Stain

To make an inexpensive homemade wood stain, mix a little roofing tar in a can with some kerosene. By varying the amount of tar, you’ll obtain shades from light tan to walnut brown, or even black. The thinned out tar loses its stickiness, sets up well, and — once dry — is perfectly compatible with clear wood finishes such as polyurethane or shellac.

Thomas Woods
Jefferson, New Hampshire