Sealing the writing on a bow

[Fred Arnold]

I'm finishing a bow and was planning on sealing with beeswax and beef kidney suet that I processed. Do I need to pay special attention so that the signature is protected from leaking and fading with this type finish?

[Pat B]

You might try burnishing the area you write on. The inks I've used will spread on raw wood. I haven't tried burnishing first so do a test first on a scrap...or a bit of poly where you are gonna write then apply the finish.

[Hamish]

Do a test on some scrap and see if the finish is compatible with the ink. Many times inks can bleed  when put on bare wood, and also when a sealant is put on over the top. I usually stamp details on with # and letter set.
A spray finish over the top of writing seems to give less trouble than a rubbed or brushed finish.

[mikekeswick]

Seal the wood and fill the pores with shellac first, sign it, then seal with shellac again. Then finish as you want.

[bradsmith2010]

sealing,, writing and then sealing again is usually the way I go,, I don't like it when the ink bleeds on the raw wood

[Fred Arnold]

Tested the shellac and it worked fine except left a glossy finish under the writing . Going to do a little more testing.

[bradsmith2010]

you can seal with something thats not glossy,, and write on that,, something with matt or satin,, or you can just spray what finish you like over the writing and it will work,, it doesnt have to be a spray,, any finish you like should go over glossy fine,

[mullet]

I sand it smooth with a green nylon pot scrubber, hit it lightly with Poly, let dry and write. Then hit it again with a few light coas of Poly and it i finished.

[bradsmith2010]

Mullet that sounds like  a pretty good plan,,that should pretty much work on anything