I finally worked up the nerve to letter the specs and such on a rod I've built using a DecoColor lettering pen (my penmanship isn't the greatest). No huge deal since the rod is for me. Anyway, is it recommended to seal the lettering with a clear coat of paint or sealer first and then apply the rod finish or go ahead and just apply the finish directly on the lettering? Also, any alternate methods of lettering that might be recommended? I thought about a draftsman pen, which has various size tips, and india ink Thanks.

Have them made up buy Decal Connection
A couple of dry dust coats of a sealer will help so it does not smear

Bill - willierods.com

Jim, I have had hand lettering smear unless you use a clear coat over it. I generally prefer unfinished blanks, so I mask the lettering off so the clear coat doesn't get on the other parts of the blank. Let the clear coat dry thouroughly before applying the epoxy. Practice will make your lettering look great.
Good luck.
Bill

Speedball acrylic ink and drafting pen = let signature dry completely and apply finish directly over it. If I'm in a hurry I'll speed dry the ink with a heat gun.

DR

In addition to Duane's comments, you can also use Testers model paint. It works very well for lettering.

I also use a drafting pen and nib to do the lettering.

Since my penmanship is poor, but my wife is an artist, she does all of the lettering.

I also just coat directly over the writing after letting the lettering dry.

I do make a point to never let a brush touch the area that has been lettered.
Generally the lettering is on only one side of the rod. So, I just get the finish on the rod and let the turning rod, flow the finish over the lettering without touching the rod with a brush. I have had a couple instances, where a brush over a recent lettering job might smear the finish.
But if I don't brush the lettering, I have never had an issue with the finish itself flowing over the finish to cause any smearing.

I also make a point to not let the finish flow very much at all over the finish. If there did happen to be a bit extra finish in the area of the lettering, I will rotate the rod, so that any dripping off of the rod will be on the side of the rod away from the finish.


Good luck
Roger

Like said
I use Dupli Color clear
One or two Dust Coats Not wet let dry

Bill - willierods.com

I've had very good luck with the silver metallic ink and a fine point nib pen used for calligraphy. With the silver metallic, I can finish directly over it without any smearing. It's pretty tough stuff.

I've had mixed results using other colors and would follow the recommendation of using dupli color clear or Krylon fixative before finishing.

Terry

I did a rod with a dip pen and recommended ink Nice ink wrote well let it dry several days Thought it was good When I finished it no CP it did smear a Tad

Bill - willierods.com