how to stop color from leaking from wenge to maple inlay

[Wooddiver]

Relative newbie seeking advice:  I built a picture frame using wenge, with a 1/8"-strip inlay of maple. I tested a water-based topcoat on a sample piece of wenge and the rag picked up a lot of color from the wenge. How do I stop the color from the wenge from leaking into/onto the maple inlay. 

[Tpt life]

I’d try CA coating the back parts, then gluing with CA, or trying similar with epoxy. That option would not help if you are trying to salvage what you have. You would at least need to remove the colored inlay. Then, I’d use shellac before any other steps. 

[wtnhighlander]

Is the rag picking up leached color, or residual dust? I have never seen the natural wood color "bleed" from one species to another, but I've never used wenge, either.

[woodprox]

To stop the color from leaking from the wenge to the maple inlay, you can use a wood glue that is darker than the maple inlay. This will help to camouflage the line where the two woods meet. You can also use a wood sealer to help protect the inlay from fading over time.