How to not stain inlay ?

[Steve1]

I am looking at making a couple of small accent tables.  Probably maple, probably General Finishes die-stain in a cinnamon/cherry color.

The top seems rather plain and I was thinking of putting a few small inlay pieces on it to give it some style.  But with my final color being somewhat dark, I am worried the inlays would have little contrast with the table top.

One possibility would be to use maple also for the inlays, but to protect them from the stain so they stay light in color. 

How could I do this ?  I could put some heavy glue sizing on the inlays before gluing them in.  But I would have to leave them perhaps .030 proud and then finish sand them flush, and I figure .030 would probably remove all the sizing.

Are there ways of doing this ? 

 

[ChuckM]

Brushing lacquer (or a heavy cut of shellac (3lb)?) should seal the inlay. But the job requires good lighting (and eyesight) and a steady hand in using an artist brush. Practice it on some scrap inlay piece first. Some use varnish, but I've never tried it.

 

[mino]

If you do not plan an oil-based stain, you can stain the piece without the inlays, glue the inlays in, sand carefully, then apply a final coat of transparent oil or lacquer.

Definitely would try on a sample.

ADD:
The problem with "protecting" an already-inserted inlay is that while you can protect the top surface with lacquer, you still run the risk of the stain "creeping" in from the sides along the grain.