Project riggers-names-Juan & Tu (you guys will catch that one later..)

[B.K. Foster]

I have the Blizzard hull completely built minus the fiberglass reinforcement for the bottom of the hull. The RRR Rigger is around 50% complete but I was informed of a minor setback today- It'll be another week for the remainder of my parts to get here. I figure that showing off both hulls wooden heritage would be more appealing than covering them up with colored paint. What do you guys think? If anyone has any tips or ideas regarding building or painting I'd much appreciate any help.

[George Pfeifer]

Want the best of both? Try India Ink from your local Arts Supply Store, it comes in an amazing array of colors, is transparent so the wood grain will show through. once applied cover it with Krylon Clear. The Ink goes on like stain and varying the number of coats will vary the darkness of the color. i have also heard of using Rit Fabric Dye to do the same thing but have not tried that method yet.
George

[Doug Forrester]

Brian
If you're considering using a natural wood grain finish with the use of some kind of staining medium before a clear overcoat, please remember that you have to be very careful with your use of glue on any external joints and surfaces. Any glue on an outside surface will prevent the absorption of the stain into the woodgrain. This will show up, bigtime. The darker the stain colour, the more it will show. Natural wood finishes, stained or not must be planned from the beginning of construction. Great pains must be taken to avoid any glue deposits on the outside wood surfaces. All squeezed-out glue must be wiped off immediately to prevent the inadvertant sealing of the woodgrain.
Just the use of clearcoat sealing is a little more forgiving but glue deposits can still show to a lesser extent depending on the darkness of the wood.

[vicman]

If you want a really neat look without being really dark, try covering it with Great Planes 30 min epoxy. It darkens the wood just a touch, is sandable, easy to spread and it dont show the "glue" marks if you have used epoxy to put it together. I have done a number of boats this way (especially riggers for weight savings). On top of all that it seals the boat! Just mix it up and use a piece of cardboard or small "FLAT" spreader to get it even and real thin, (sand the wood first with 400 grit or finer paper to remove the hairy look). You can also thin it with "Interlux" epiglass HT901 epoxy thinner (sold a marine supply stores) and spray it with an airbrush to get a really smooth look. When its done it looks like a piece of shiney wet balsa. In other words "LOOKS LIKE WOOD".

Give it a try, tell me what you think, maybe on a scrap piece of wood first? it also soaks into the wood to strengthen it.

vicman/v.m.p.