I have been airbrushing using alcohol based leather dyes with good
success. Depending on the wood species I may wet the surface with water,
dry, and sand, but it's not always necessary. Never worked with beech, so
I don't know about that one. I seal the leather dye with a couple light
coats of spray can shellac - light coats so the dye doesn't run, shellac
is also alcohol based.

-mike paulson, fort collins, co