Stain, Dye, patina>

[chris pearson]

Has anyone that has stained and/or tinted a canoe quite a few years ago notice if the new stained pieces have kept pace with patina darkening of the original wood? I struggle with staining/dying to make these canoes look good now, vs. how they will look with some age applied. I have my EM White that I restored in '85 and you can hardly tell which parts are newer now. I know this has been discussed, and feel this is an important subject to discuss further.

 

[crosscuts]

Hi Chris,

I find that mahogany darkens quickly in the sun and the shade gets very close to old wood. Oxidation goes on with lighter colored woods like the cedars as well. With a little help from initial staining over time the overall contrast between new and old is not much different than the contrasts found in new construction. Varnish helps as it takes on a more amber tone. Quite often the only way to tell a new rib over new planking is the number of nail holes in it. The sun is a big factor in mellowing finish tones.

R.C.