A finishing question

[Ray Bell]

This is a cherry bowl with 1/4" wide grooves. The grooves are ~1/16" deep. I would like for the bottom of the grooves to be black. If I were to paint the entire grooved area with water based acrylic, and then wiped the top of the gooves off with a damp cloth, and then applied BLO, would the BLO smear the paint in the bottom of the grooves? Is there a better way to accomplish this?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[John Hart]

Hmmmm...I think if I were to jump in and try that, my first instinct would be to paint the grooves, let them dry, then re-turn the top of the groove.

That's what my guts tell me. I really don't think BLO will affect the acrylic once it's cured.

[Mike Peace]

Why not just burn them in with a wire?

[Ray Bell]

Why not just burn them in with a wire?

Of coarse, thank you Mike, for some reason that just didn't enter my feeble mind.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Yup - first thought was burning. If you did use paint or ink - then you could always sand the piece lightly to clean up the edges before applying finish.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Ray,

Go to a music store and buy a guitar string to burn the bottom of the "V". I have a friend who owns a music store and he sells guitar strings in sets and singles. I buy singles for this use and for my wife's cheese slicer.

[Ray Bell]

Thanks all. Ken, which string do you use?

[Michael James]

Thanks all. Ken, which string do you use?

Buy a set and then you'll have 6 different burns available and get a sense of how they ea work. Good luck.

[Ray Bell]

Good idea Michael. thanks

[Greg Just]

I have been using stranded picture hanging wire that I got from the local hardware store.

[John Keeton]

Another vote for guitar strings. Some music shops save used strings (never understood why??)and, my local shop gives them to me. The wound strings burn quicker, but all will work.

[bob svoboda]

Hey Ray. Be sure to specify steel strings. The thicker strings are wound and burn easier (E,A,D,G) the unwound B and E will burn, just takes a little more patience. Good Luck with your project.

[Tim Thiebaut]

I used some steel fishing leaders for mine...

[Lee Koepke]

i have used black annealed wire (because thats what was handy) ... but we do have a music store in town, so i will inquire about the guitar strings ..

[Ray Bell]

All good replies, and I thank you again. Headed to the music store.