[Dick Carne]

I would recommend staying away from real glossy base coats, since this could create problems for you as you begin to lay your grain down on top of it. I have grained a number of pieces for friends on the stipulation that they bring the pieces to me with the base coat already in place. Those who have provided pieces with a slick base coat are much harder to get a good grain to adhere to, and the application of a "smear coat" over that initial grain becomes virtually impossible since the initial grain is often removed in its entirety when you go to wipe down the smear coat (I have found this not to be the case when using "flatter" base coats). As far as the methods to use, I second those positive comments concerning the use of Evan's Grain-it-Technologies graining plates and inks. Good luck to you regardless of what method you ultimately decide to use.