Do You Pore Fill Before Final Top Sanding?

[Darryl Young]

I guess the topic name pretty much asks my question. OK have a protective coat of Damar on my soundboard. Also, I've completed sanding the sides so have the back and top left to sand before pore filling with Z-Poxy.

I don't want the fine, orange mahogany dust on the soundboard more than necessary so I'm wondering if I could sand the back and finish all pore fill coats on the back and sides before sanding the top down and spraying shellac sealer on the top? It would keep some dust off rt he unprotected top and possibly save me sanding the top twice and I don't want it thinned more than necessary.

Anyone see a problem if I use this sequence?

[Ben-Had]

I do my top first, put a coat of sanding sealer on, then do the back and sides, a coat (or two) of sanding sealer, bind and finally pore fill.

[Darryl Young]

I did sand and put a protective coat on the top before cutting the binding channels. I've finished binding and now I'm prepping for finish. I just finished sanding the back so now the back and sides are sanded.

I guess my question now is does any one see a problem if I go ahead and pore fill the back and sides BEFORE final sanding the top and spraying a coat or two of shellac as a sealer? FYI, I've scraped the binding flush on the top but I haven't yet re-sanded the top since installing the cocobolo binding.

[johnnparchem]

I pore fill before final sanding of the top. I do have a couple of wash coats of shellac on to seal the top. No mater how I try I always get epoxy on the top. So I stopped worrying about it and wait on the top until the back and sides are pore filled.

[Darryl Young]

Thanks John. I couldn't see a problem with using this approach but wondered if someone else might think of one. It sounds like it is doable.

[B. Howard]

I don't do it that way, But I see no problem with it.