Have some shafts that have an 8" crest. Will stain the rest of the shaft. Should l put a coat of Deft on before l crest the shafts. Thanks, Don

Not sure about deft, but i usually put 2 coats of laquer then crest and then add another 1 or 2 coats of laquer

I just crown, crest, then poly over 4 coats.

I use water base poly, the oil base poly turns a little yellow.

Used water based paint. Did a test with Deft over paint and it worked fine. I will stain and Deft over stain and crest with water base paint.Not sure if paint will adhear to the Deft but we will see. Don

Stain, fine steel wool, poly, steel wool again, cap, very light SW, crest, multiple poly coats.  

That's where I'm at right now.

I stain(2coats or more depending on color),steel wool,crown,steel wool,wipe on poly(2 coats)then crest, then poly(2 coats) in between the poly always steel wool.

What is the advantage of applying a coat or two of poly before doing the cresting?  Do you get an additional depth of colour or do you find it to be more durable?

It smoothes the surface to be crested, and removes the chance of the stain messing with your cresting.

Killdeer

If you are just crowining or creating over stain the paint may bleed without some sealing of the stained portion.