Lettering metallic on stained wood

[Feldspar]

Hey Guys,

I'm going to be lettering metallic gold onto stained wood. I worked a long time mixing the stain to the exact right gray/blue color to match my customer's business identity.
The wood is soaking up the paint and I can't get a good coat without priming first.

Is there a clear primer/sealer I can put down first that won't change the color of the stain?
This will be hung indoors so it doesn't have to be weather proof.

Thanks,

F

 

[Billct2]

Can't you just letter with the primer first?

 

[Eric H]

So you're lettering in the top and bottom sections? I would varnish that entire section. How did you get the red to cover without soaking in? I probably would have cleared the whole panel before any painting.

 

[Feldspar]

Can't you just letter with the primer first?

This was my origional plan but my letters tend to look cleaner the fewer strokes I use to make them.

 

[Feldspar]

So you're lettering in the top and bottom sections? I would varnish that entire section. How did you get the red to cover without soaking in? I probably would have cleared the whole panel before any painting.

Yes. I underbased the red with two coats of white oil-based primer. Clear coating the whole thing would have worked as long as it didn't affect the color if the stain too much. I could still do it now at any point I guess which would work like a clear primer. Just don't want the wood to get too dark from soaking up all the clear coat.

I have clear coated with Flat Ceramithane before on dyed wood with very little darkening. Never painted on it though.

 

[Jillbeans]

I just lettered a small honours board that I stained first, and I cleared it with Minwax Spar Polyurethene. It did not change the color of my stain, only enhanced it.
I lettered it with Ronan gold ultraleaf waterbased, and I did have to double-coat it.
You will have to seal that with something or it will act like a sponge.
Love....Jill