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FINE WOODWORKING PROJECT GUIDES
Finishing
Guide Home
Chapter
* Finishing Basics
* Tools & Materials
* Sanding & Surface Preparation
* Coloring Wood
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How-To
A PRO’S SECRET TO A PERFECT FINISH
PETER GEDRYS EXPLAINS WHEN TO USE A GRAIN FILLER TO GET A DEEP, LUSTROUS LOOK.
By Peter Gedrys #253–Mar/Apr 2016 Issue
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Synopsis: Ever wonder how the pros get that smooth, mirror finish on furniture?
No doubt they have great technique, but they also have a secret weapon:
commercial grain fillers. You can sand and apply a slurry of finish and sanding
dust, which many woodworkers do, but the labor and time involved are hefty. A
commercial oil- or water-based grain filler is the better option. Finishing pro
Peter Gedrys explains when to use a grain filler, how to get the best results,
and the pros and cons six of different brands of filler.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may have admired the mirror finish on a piano or wondered how expert
finishers get that dead-smooth clear coat on fine furniture. The secret isn’t
just in sanding or spraying, but also in an intermediate step called grain, or
pore, filling. Unfortunately, this step often gets eliminated because it can be
messy, a bit time-consuming, and at times troublesome. But this single process
can help transform a finish from mundane to spectacular.
A single coat. Wipe or brush on the thinned shellac. Resist the urge to touch up
areas that absorb the finish. You are only sealing the wood, not finishing it.
I’ll show you when to use a grain filler, why it shouldn’t be used only on
tabletops, and how to get the best results with the least mess. I’ll also
describe the pros and cons of six commercial brands of filler.
OIL-BASED VS. WATER-BASED FILLERS
Grain fillers come in oil-based and water-based varieties. Water-based fillers
don’t smell as strong as oil types, tool cleanup is easier, and they dry faster.
This last feature, though, can be a double-edged sword. I like the fact that
oil-based fillers take a little longer to dry because I can work on a larger
area at a time. For example, when filling a mahogany desktop, I may be able to
do it in three sections with oil-based as opposed to six with a faster-drying,
water-based type.
Some fillers come in wood tones while others are only available as “neutral” or
“natural.” Unless you want gray pores, these clear fillers must be colored. For
oil-based fillers, you can use any solvent-compatible colorants such as artist’s
oil paints, dry pigments, or universal tinting colors (UTCs). For water-based
fillers, you can use Mixol concentrates, UTCs, or artist’s acrylics.
It is best to blend the color thoroughly with a small amount of filler and
mineral spirits (or water for water-based fillers) and then add that to a batch
of filler; it will incorporate much more easily than if you add the color
directly to the batch. If you use dry pigments, mix them in well; otherwise, you
may have a pocket of unmixed pigment smeared on the surface.
From Fine Woodworking #253
To view the entire article, please click the View PDF button below.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Odie's Oil
Ease of Use = Very Good Sheen = Excellent Appearance = Very good Non-Yellowing =
Very good Water/Stain Resistance = Excellent
Buy at Amazon
Bahco 6-Inch Card Scraper
The size and thickness are what matter here. A consistent performer, this Bahco
scraper is found in many shops we visit.
Buy at Amazon
Diablo ‘SandNet’ Sanding Discs
While Diablo’s SandNet disks perform similarly to conventional paper abrasives
in terms of material removal and surface prep (with some exceptions at the lower
grits), they make keeping your work surface and work area clean much easier,
thanks to the great dust collection possible with them.
Buy at Amazon
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Guide
FINISHING
Chapter
SANDING & SURFACE PREPARATION
* BEFORE YOU FINISH
* SAND, SCRAPE, OR PLANE?
* GET SMOOTH SURFACES, EVEN ON THE WILDEST WOODS
* FOOLPROOF SURFACE PREP
* FLATTENING BY HAND
* TEXTURE WOOD TO HIGHLIGHT THE GRAIN
* HOW TO CREATE A TEXTURED FINISH WITH A WIRE BRUSH
* SANDING
* ALL ABOUT SANDPAPER
* TIPS FOR SANDING BASICS
* SANDING METHODS FOR A FLAWLESS SURFACE
* ARE YOU SANDING RIGHT?
* WHEN TO STOP SANDING?
* POWER-TOOL FLATTENING
* GREAT RESULTS WITH A BELT SANDER
* SEALERS AND FILLERS
* SEAL FIRST FOR A BETTER FINISH
* MAKE YOUR OWN GRAIN FILLERS
* FILLING PORES
* SEALING WITH SHELLAC
* A PRO'S SECRET TO A PERFECT FINISH
* ALL ABOUT SEALERS
* SEAL YOUR PROJECT WITH DEWAXED SHELLAC
* JET-BLACK FILLER LOOKS LIKE A NATURAL PITCH POCKET
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FINISHING BASICS
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TOOLS & MATERIALS
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* Sanding
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COLORING WOOD
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SPRAY FINISHING
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SHELLAC & OTHER FINISHES
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REPAIRS & REFINISHING
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GET THE LATEST FROM FINE WOODWORKING MAGAZINE
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