Cloth Hinge follow-on question

Let's hear how you keep the finish from soaking into the working part of cloth hinges and making them stiff! I have never figured out how to make the trailing edge of the wing and leading edge of the flap (or elevator) fuelproof and the finish color without screwing up the hinges themselves.

I spray clear over them. Never any problems. They remain flexible for some time. Older muslin hinges do rot out (dry rot), but no porblems with the Dacron hinges.