Frank
Shellac has a warm color to it Tung oil is lighter lacquer is the clearest. Nice looking sign I hope you have some scrap left so you can try before you buy. Very nice looking sign

 

Thanks for the compliment Bill.......I wish I had some left over. That is the whole piece of wood. We bought it to fit right where she wants it to go.

 

My vote then is to rattle can clear lacquer since its indoors will probably give the best color contrasts. Try it on the back (I always finish back first anyhow just for practice)

 

Time to get some shellac or make it yourself from flakes - if only to broaden your horizons.

 

A chemist, I'm not. :smile:

I think I will buy it instead.

 

Black acrylic paint for the letters, let it dry and clear coat of your choice.

HJ

 

John, I am leaning towards a beige to match the walls in our kitchen. We thought about black.....and have not ruled it out.

Thanks.

 

Should have said acrylic paint in the color of your choice. I just think black when I hear zebra - and I have a quart of it.

HJ

 

Zebra wood(?)...

 

Maybe Okapi?

 

Sorry I can't contribute Frank , but just wanted to say that wood grain looks awesome and I'm sure looking forward too seeing the finished product

 

UPDATE......

We went with an off-white-biege color for the letters. It very closely matched her curtains.

I still need to put the key hole slots in the back to hang it.

We are gonna wait on sealing it for now. Being inside, the smell of the finish.....if the shellac has a smell.....could affect my asthma.

I cut everything with my 1/8" flat bottom carbide bit. I cut it at full depth in 1 cutting.....about 1/4" deep.

 

Another great job Frank. I love that wood , what a great choice for one of your signs. The white fonts look really sharp

 

I really like Watco Danish Oil. It will make the figure of the wood really pop.

 

Nice 'flame job'!

 

Came out awesome Frank. Love the wood and the sign. Fantastic job.

 

We had a demo at the recent meeting of our turning club. The fellow was showing how to paint turnings. One piece used acrylic paint. Looked great! The only thing is it takes a while to dry as opposed to other paints he had. BTW, he used fingerpaints, too.
Let's see the sign after you decide what you use.