Coloring some relief carving

[RobKimball]

Hi all,
I just finished a bit of relief carving for a gift - I carved a signature in 1" script on an artists' easel made of beechwood. I went to a local hobby shop to ask what I could use to color the relief - all I want is a bit of black in the signature to set off the contrast. They recommended India ink.

Is that going to work? Will it bleed all over the place or raise the grain?

Thanks all, and happy holidays!
Rob

[TreeWizard]

I think the ink will bleed. I'd use something thicker like paint that is less likely to bleed. Another option is a gel stain.

[Rwenzoski]

Hi Rob, First question? are you going to finish with any type of clear finish over the wood & colour. The reason I ask this is what I recommend is applying a coat of whatever finish then do your colour & then apply more coats of the finish over top. This is what I normally do when I am going to add any colour to any carving. Normally I am applying epoxy so I do this first, then add any colour whether it be a stain or paint then add the clear or what have you over the top of everything to seal it up. No bleeding then with the colours applied! Hope this helps!
Thanks, Robbin

[squbrigg]

The India Ink will bleed, badly! Have you considered burning the letters once carved? That shows them up nicely. Just painting them with Black acrylic paint will also work.

Bob

[RobKimball]

Thanks for the tips, folks - I bet you just saved my piece!

I'll be sure to post some pictures when all's said and done.
Thanks again,
Rob

[Dennis Taylor]

I use India ink now, and it will without a doubt bleed, I don't know if you sealed the wood first and then applied the ink if that would not bleed or not, but try it on scrap wood and not the project....I agree whatever finish you will apply use that to seal the wood, ink the letters and then seal, I would think that would work and that the ink would not bleed thru the sealer....Dennis