I am making a skittles board with b2 birch plywood. For those that don't know, this is not a candy server - it is a tabletop game somewhat like a combination of bowling, shuffleboard and top spinning. A 2' x 4' open top box is divided into a few "rooms" with open doors between them. Miniature bowling pins are set up in the rooms, and you set a top spinning from one end of the apparatus to knock them over.
I am trying to follow the plans here fairly closely: PDF plan of skittle board
Their recommendation for finishing is as follows:
After cutting all doorways—a job you can speed by careful stacking of the blanks—sand edges smooth. A coat of shellac thinned 50 per-cent with alcohol, followed with two coats of enamel makes a durable finish. Brushing is easier if you prefinish the parts before you glue and nail them together.The smoother the finish on the floor, the longer the top will spin, so give it extra care and attention. Sand carefully between each coat of shellac and enamel; then apply a paste wax and buff it to a hard finish before assembly
What this doesn't address is when to apply the lettering indicating scores for various pins. Is that the first step? The last? (Probably not the last, since the painted lettering would leave a little bit of a textural variation.)
Plus these directions are pretty old -maybe there is a better technique overall.
What methods should I use to get bright red and blue numbers to end up visible on the (very smooth) "floor" of the box?
My question is similar to this one: Finish for hand painted/lettered wood sign but I am not particularly concerned about the end result being waterproof, but I do need it to be durable against clattering pins
