Grain Filler?

[MKGBass]

Is grain filler necessary when finishing an instrument, and what exactly is its purpose?

Thanks

[KeithHowell]

It depends on the wood. Maple for example doesn't need filling but mahogany does. Its purpose is to fill the gaps in the grain to give a smooth surface so that your finish coats are smooth. Jeremy from LGM will definitely be able to give you a far better explanation.

Keith

[strummer2k]

Keith is right and SwampAsh is the other wood that needs grain filling. If you want a "glass like" finish and you use either Mahogany or SwampAsh(there may be others I don't know about), then you need to fill the grain. There are detailed instructions on the ReRanch site for doing this (www.ReRanch.com). The methods will apply no matter what type of finish you decide on (poly, nitro etc.).

That said, I have seen some people who don't mind a rough finish and just let the nitro or poly sink into the pores. I think these people are in the minority however.

One more thing about grain filling is that you can really enhance the look of Mahogany or SwampAsh with a dark grain filler. It all depends on what type of finish you are trying to achieve.

[guitar_ed]

Koa, Oak, and Walnut fall into the category of woods that should have their pores filled.

Guitar Ed

[pour bleeding me]

i used grain filler on my mohoganny explorer and the front looks great and flat...but the back still shows grain...can i add any filler or sealer on top of the paint to prevent grain? or do i have to sand it back down? thanks

[Morben Guitars]

I'd shoot a few coats of Sanding Sealer, and then sand it flat. That should take care of it...then hit it with the clear coat.