Scrimshaw Lettering

I am doing a set of personalized drum sticks for a friend. These are inlayed with ivory piano keys that I obtained when we junked an old piano. I use India ink to make a scrimshaw letter design. After etching the letters I apply the ink, let it dry, and then sand off the ink. In theory, all that would be left would be the ink down in the etch. Cross your fingers for me. This is the last step.