Paul, Dean, Bram and everybody else who responded,

Thanks for the input. You confirmed my worst fears of a paint bond to the wood seperating under stress. I was holding on to a thread of hope!! At any rate, what I think Ill do is just go with a brightwork finish. Im an artist so the idea of painting designs seemed so seductive. On the other hand, continually patching up, touching up, and so on is not my idea of enjoying the finished work.

I was hoping Nick might have a word or two as it was his suggestion in his book that it was an option to either paint a design ontop of the glass etc, or beneath it where it would be permanent. You know, its a neat idea to actually have a pin stripe as a raised veneer, giving some relief, or three dimensionality to the design.

At anyrate, I think you guys are all tops and Ive printed out all your respponses.

Pete Incidentaly, yes the poisonous gases, or fumes are deadly even without atomizing. Atomizing does however offer a quicker and deadlier delivery of the substance by depositing micro "raindrops" into the lungs. For those not aquainted with the word atomizing, its essntially a slang term used to describe the mist of liquid that forms under a mixture with highpressure air.