Sand the board with 120-grit sandpaper in the direction of the grain until the surface is smooth and all mill marks are gone. Follow with 180-grit for a finer finish. Wipe away all dust with a barely damp cloth and let dry for ten minutes. Apply the wood stain with a foam brush or cloth, working in the direction of the grain and covering the front, edges, and back. Wipe back any excess with a clean cloth after two minutes. The board should look deeply coloured and even with no streaks. Allow to dry fully: most stains need two to four hours minimum, so check the tin.

Once the stain is completely dry and does not feel the least bit tacky, lightly sketch the lettering in chalk or a light pencil on the surface to establish your spacing and baseline. Keep the letters centred on the board and leave equal margins on all sides.

Shake the paint pen and prime the tip on scrap paper until the ink flows smoothly. Letter over your pencil sketch in confident, even strokes, keeping the pen at a consistent 45 to 60 degree angle to the surface. Do not go back over wet letters: wait two minutes between passes if a second stroke is needed. When the ink is fully dry, erase any visible pencil lines with a soft eraser.