Willits stain

Did the Willits brothers use any stain on their canoes before varnishing or was it just selecting lighter color cedar to get the yellow finish on some of their boats. The ones I am working on both need stripping and I would like to get back close to the original color. Thanks, Pete

 

Hi Ppride,

You are asking a delicate question.

Not all agree with the answer, but I believe they did; based on my own experience stripping a number of Willits canoes. I don't think it was yellow though and most present on the outside.

Others will say they never used a stain.

Good luck,

Paul

 

Thanks Paul, I most likely will not stain. Pete