: I've used Solar Lux's Blood Red dye before on a cedar strip, but I
: want something almost black or black. Something a deep dark
: color on western red cedar. I'm debating between: Jet Black or a
: thick coat of American Walnut.

: Any thoughts?

Check this thread started by Bill Hamm: http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/index.cgi/md/read/id/199149/sbj/strip-ebonizing/

I did a test on WRC and it did make the wood almost black (at least the heartwood, sapwood stayed much lighter). The wood needs to be treated after sanding since it did not penetrate far. After treating the wood, I rinsed it well with water or sodium bicarb, allowed it to dry, and tested some MAS epoxy, which set up just as quickly as untreated wood. It was just the top of the wood in the photo that was treated so you can see the difference in color between the untreated and treated wood. The far right and left edges are sapwood.

I tested the epoxy because I've read on the forum that many wood stains will affect the hardening. I did not actually glass the wood but I'm assuming since the epoxy set up, the treatment shouldn't interfere with glassing. I used the bicarb in case water was not sufficient to neutralize the vinegar but the water was fine. The white wood in the center of this picture was some spruce which I had used for accents on my Great Auk. It was not treated but I wanted to make sure the treatment would not 'run' from the cedar into the spruce during rinsing or epoxying.

Dwight