Grain filler

Is there any grain filler I can buy from a local paint shop or warehouse store? What do you recommend?

Inexpensive, effective, and locally available grain filler (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/finely-finished/313712-yet-another-grain-fill-thread.html)

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-technical/225084-joint-compound-grain-filler.html
You can also use 2 part epoxy.

Will epoxy work if you're staining (dyeing ?) the body though, or is it only viable when using tinted lacquer (or solids of course) ?

So u have to seal the wood first then use grain filler and then in the grain filler? I am a beginner doing my first project, sorry for all the questions. Can I just Seal and grain fill using shellac?

Will epoxy work if you're staining (dyeing ?) the body though, or is it only viable when using tinted lacquer (or solids of course) ?

You would have to stain the body first then apply the epoxy.

Always seal the wood first with grain filler, especially tinted or dyed grain filler. This prevents the grain filler from staining the wood itself. What is meant by sealing first is sprayng bare wood with one or two coats of lacquer or sanding sealer. Nothing complicated.

So u have to seal the wood first then use grain filler and then in the grain filler? I am a beginner doing my first project, sorry for all the questions. Can I just Seal and grain fill using shellac?

You dont have to seal it first, it depends on what kind of finish you are trying to achieve. If you dont seal it first some fillers can stain the wood. Some guys tint the filler and use that to stain the wood at the same time, like on a Gibson.

1. Stain
2. Seal
3. Fill
4. Spray color coat/sunburst/whatever
5. Spray clear
6. Profit!

So u have to seal the wood first then use grain filler and then in the grain filler? I am a beginner doing my first project, sorry for all the questions. Can I just Seal and grain fill using shellac?

You can use shellac as a sealer.

I always seal first. Prevents the dry wood from sucking up the solvents/water from the grain filler, which makes it harder to work with.

You can use shellac as a sealer.

I always seal first. Prevents the dry wood from sucking up the solvents/water from the grain filler, which makes it harder to work with.

Shellac dries with a glossy kinda finish, how many coats do you think I would need? And sand after each coat?

Shellac dries with a glossy kinda finish, how many coats do you think I would need? And sand after each coat?

One coat when using as a sealer. Then apply grain filler. After the shellac dries, you can hit it with some sythetic steel wool to scuff it up.

When Using shellac as a sealer, its important to use de waxed shellac.

1. Stain
2. Seal
3. Fill
4. Spray color coat/sunburst/whatever
5. Spray clear
6. Profit!

You got it right except for the profit part :wink:.

Colt, thanks for your help, I have read your thread on How I approach...and it is a valuable tool for us beginners and I'm sure novice's as well. The shellac they sell in big box stores in de-waxed correct?

Colt, thanks for your help, I have read your thread on How I approach...and it is a valuable tool for us beginners and I'm sure novice's as well. The shellac they sell in big box stores in de-waxed correct?

Some is and some isn't. Bullseye shellac in the aerosol is dewaxed, but the stuff in the quart can is not. I believe Zinnsers seal coat is dewaxed shellac.