Re-finishing a Hope Chest?

Question

Ok, so I plan on sanding off the varnish that I put on the hope chest a while back. Then, I want to do some pyrography on it (wood-burning) as well as paint it green. In which order should I do these things? Also, would you recommend that I paint the letters formed from the pyrography work a contrasting shade to make them more legible, or keep them au naturale, leaving the burnt wood colour as indeed the colour of the forms?

Answer 1

Make sure ALL the varnish is off before you do your wood burning! You can use a glaze to highlight the letters. Glaze won't mask the grain of the wood, it simply highlights.

Answer 2

sand then burn

then clear coat dont paint

natural wood is beautifull

depending on the depth of the lettering it will stand out just fine on itsl own