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Over a year ago I came across commercial use grain filler that really has promise --
Lacquer based, fast drying, and clear -- at that time it was only available in five-gallon pails so my thought was a repackage under our brand name, actually that idea was approved. However on second thought I came to my senses and decided that the finishing arena was not for me.

But here’s the good news this product is now available in one quart containers directly from the producer. I did a lot of testing on different woods, using different lacquer topcoats. The only anomalies were a bit of cloudiness from using too many coats of filler and incompatibility with sanding sealers like Deft, which have additives (soap) to make sanding easy. The manufacturer recommends Behlens or Mohawk vinyl sealer.

So this Quick Drying lacquer Based grain filler is from “Hood Finishing Products” and I can tell you, it is now my pore filler of choice.

http://www.hoodfinishing.com/2011-Catal ... illers.pdf

DAMN! I was totally hoping you were dressed up as a caveman, holding the pore filler!
Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.

Wow, that looks extremely promising....especially since it can be sprayed on. I wonder how well it works on padauk? Beautiful wood, some of the nastiest pores I have ever seen.

I don't see why it would not work on any wood. I tested the clear, but plan to get a can of the amber filler and also do a little tinting of the clear as well. Its really nice to use -- drys "right now!!" I have not sprayed it - only brushed. Before applying the filler I use a RATTLE CAN SPRAY sealer to prevent the dark wood from bleeding color onto the light binding and purfs. The directions warn against applying to many coats -- but I found that if you sand back deeper pores can be filled. This stuff is your sealer coat too -- so you do not sand back to bare wood.

Wonder how well the water-based works....probably more appropriate for those of us without spray booths.

The product I am praising and have tested is the solvent Lacquer Based Pore Filler, as indicated I brushed it on -- you do not need a spray booth so Ken your comment is a bit confusing? I will add that I have used the clear water borne pore fillers from Stew Mac and Target which I believe are the same product as well as Crystalac -- The way they all distort the surface and raise the grain in my view is unacceptable.

Ken,
This is GREAT! And since I AM a caveman, I am into trying it.
I'm excited. I have tried clear epoxy for porefilling on 3 guitars and had strange results (maybe or maybe not due to the epoxy). On the last one, to avoid a possible problem again with epoxy, I only used the Behlens vinyl sealer to fill what little pores there were, top coated with Behlens Stringed instrument lacquer. On that guitar already where the owner has bumped the edge of the guitar, the finish has a small, I'll call it, a fracture....almost like it lifted from the surface of the wood. I would like to avoid any filler if possible, but this product looks to be the cats meow for under a Nitro finish.
I will definately get some clear to try on my next Walnut/Redwood?Koa OM.
Thanks for sharing Ken.

Kevin

Ken, how many coats have you found are needed to fill properly?

Kevin, which clear epoxy did you use and what were the strange results you experienced?

David L

Three coats on average -- it drys so fast and is so easy to apply a couple of extra coat is no big deal.

I like the fact that the compatibility is posted right in the advertisement and it appears you can use just about anything as a top coat.

I've communicted with the owner on numerous occassions, Erick has been in the business many, many years and he really knows his stuff.