splinters..
If the vinyl is too agressive it will pull off wood ( small but can be a real issue) when the stencil itself is removed. A low tack stencil vinyl mask is best or you can rub the adhesive with your hand or across your pant leg to "lower" the tackiness before application..depending on the size and all. It's a balance of tacky enough to stick to the wood and not the transfer
paper..I've even sprayed the sticky side of the transfer
paper with a light coat of flat clear before pressing onto the cut vinyl to "adjust" the tacky level.
You can get some very cool effects by spraying stains or candy colors this way to simulate stained wood. If you want a crisp lettering but raw wood color and do not intend to stain or pain the background wood..use Sherwin Williams 24% high solids vinyl sealer on the wood first and it will give you a nice smooth clear surface and protect the grain..it should sanded after it is dry and before applying vinyl. That can also be painted or cleared over with any finish. That will give the vinyl something to stick to so the transfer
paper lets go. I don't have the number..but there is a heavy textured vinyl transparent transfer "
paper" that is low tack..check that out first.

Good luck