Pore filling on Granadillo

[jorge rodriguez]

Hi all,

I am an amateur builder, I have finished a few instruments and I am about to finish another one. This is a flat top acoustic guitar with granadillo back and sides. I have never finished a guitar with this wood type, I will use nitro. I read somewhere that pore filling is not necessary for granadillo, but if I look I can see quite a lot of open pore in it.

Is pore filling necessary with granadillo? What is a good pore filler for this wood to use with nitro? I have used water based fillers, but they are messy... I have also used pumice as the classical builders do... but it's slow... suggestions needed.

Thanks in advance!!

Jorge

[Barry Daniels]

Yes, pore filling is appropriate. Any of them will work. I have been using Aqua Coat clear Grain Filler lately and it is very easy and not messy like a lot of the other options. However, a couple of coats may be necessary. You can tint the clear filler with water based paint colors if you prefer. I use Universal Tint Colors (UTC) that you can get at many paint stores. I usually go with a dark chocolate brown color for most woods.

[jorge rodriguez]

Thanks a lot, Barry! I will check that product.

[Carl Dickinson]

I've tried Aquacoat on Bocote and Narra (big pores), shellac sealer between coats, 5 coats and the pores still show. When I've used West Systems epoxy (2 to 3 coats w/wash coat) it filled Bocote and Narra smoothly. Just my experience.