Wire inlay before or after stain

[Rambler]

What is your learned opinion on this . I've done it both ways and had success and failure both ways . Thanks for your help .

[PPatch]

Before, for sure. Do all your inlays and wire work before you apply finish. You will be able to clean the wire or inlay after you're done with the finishing.

dave

[rsells]

I do my wire inlay before staining.  I always work the wood and wire down to the same plane, then do the normal whiskering, staining, and finishing of the stock.
                                                                                                 Roger Sells

[smart dog]

Hi Rambler,
I am not sure why anyone would choose to inlay wire after staining.  When you file off the excess wire you will probably have to restain where your file or stone scraped the wood. It really makes no sense.

dave
 

[Ed Wenger]

Agree with all above, absolutely before staining.


            Ed

[David Price]

I don't see any advantage to straining before inlaying the wire.  It would also be harder to see your pencil line  on the stained surface.  I also leave the wire  considerably  higher than the surface of the wood until just before the last coat of finish.  I then file it down to just a few thousands of an inch above the surface of the wood and then apply the last coat of finish.  If you don't leave it a tad high you will not be able to clean it when it tarnishes.

David Price

[Jeff Stewart]

Can't imagine doing wire inlay after staining, but maybe that's because I always have a lot of clean up to do.  A more talented, neater  craftsman may have more luck doing after the stain.