How to repaint crossbuck lettering?

A black sharpie works very well…

I like the idea of the sharpie if you have a steady hand.  If you want to use paint. Go for a craft or water based that can easily be cleaned up if you make a mistake.  Most hobby shops carry Micro Brushes. Dab some paint on it and remove any excess by brushing a paper towel before you try painting the letters. Rest your arm on something to steady your hand.  Don’t try to paint the letters by holding the brush straight down. Lay it more on it’s side and let it rest on more of the letter. Just sort of let it glide over the letter. The more brush you have riding on the letter. The less chance it will slip down where you don’t want the paint.

I actually did mine with a fine point black sharpie.  My hands are fairly steady, but frankly I have banana fingers so doing detailed work isn't something I'm good at.  However, this actually turned out perfectly.

Use a microbrush. But dont buy them from the hobby store. They're eyelash applicators, and you can get them by the gross from amazon for the same price as about 10 from the hobby shop.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...le?ie=UTF8&psc=1

@GeoPeg posted:

I restored a #76 Watchman Shanty W/Ringing Bell, and it looks and works great! The only remaining issue is that Dawn liquid and a toothbrush made short work of the black lettering on this crossbuck. Oops!

Since my hands are not all that steady most of the time, a paint brush probably won't work. Seems like dabbing a fairly stiff foam brush with paint on it might do the trick? What's the best way you have found, especially for unsteady hands?

The crossbuck is not at the correct height just yet, same for the finial cap. Just wanted to see briefly how they will look

Thanks - George

George I have panted such raised lettering by painting a patch of paint on a smooth surface (glass) and then placing a finger tip in the paint and patting it lightly on the lettering.  Use a slow drying paint and if you make a mistake you wipe it off and try again.               j

Stamp pad.

Put a piece of thin cardboard along the edge that you're working on, turning as you go, and use a paint pen, available at Art and Craft Stores or even Walmart in Crafts Dept.

To paint elevated or embossed lettering, I paint a thin even coat of paint on a flat, non porous surface (an old ceramic tile or flat sheet of metal or plastic) and while wet, I press the item into the paint.  Repeat if necessary.

Bob