How to Distress a Table

Use a drill to make marks in the wood. Be careful not to go all the way through the table and to adjust the dept of different marks you make. You'll also want to take great care that you do not inadvertently create a pattern. This is an excellent tool for distressing and allows different looks according to the various bits used and depths drilled.

Hit the table with chains in various places to leave fairly unique indentations in the surface according to the force of the blow and the location of the strike. Wood can be distressed through this sort of pressure quite beautifully. When used in combination with some of the other distressing techniques and tools the overall look can be both stunning and ageless.

Scrape the surface with a wire brush. This is yet another distinct mark that will leave indentations upon the surface without causing so much damage that the surface isn't suitable for dining or many other purposes.

Make rings in the table's wooden surface by filling cleaned cans in various sizes filled with hot water and placed haphazardly along the surface of the table. You will probably want to do this several times so that the rings overlap for an even more aged look. While this doesn't directly distress the surface it greatly adds to the look of old you are hoping to achieve.