WHite Herters Inking - How to refinsh over it?

[ballen28115]

Hey, I've got a couple of light weight Herter's kids bows that I'd like to refinish the risers with wipe on poly. I'd like to go to bare wood on the riser, but I don't want to tear up the inking.  So should I just lightly sand the whole surface and poly over that or go to the wood and feather over the edge of the old finish on the inking?  Thanks.

[mahantango]

I've done several that way. If the finish isn't real bad,(flaking or deep scratches) lightly sand and spray or wipe poly over it. If you take it to bare wood and leave old finish over the ink you will end up with dark areas where the old finish was, especially if the riser is a lighter wood like maple.