vinyl sealer

[Mike Sandor]

I need a bit of advise regarding sealing and grain filling. I am finishing a acoustic guitar, walnut sides and back. I originally only used lacquer to build the finish and fill the pores. I must of had some type of contamination as I started to see very small dots where the finish would not flow into. Possible contamination with silicone. At any rate, I sanded the entire guitar back to the bare wood and will now start over. My question is, can I use vinyl sealer over a previous lacquered surface. Also, I have not used a pore filler before but would like to try it. Will this go over a previously lacquered guitar, even though it has been sanded back to wood and the sealed?

[Barry Daniels]

Lacquer, vinyl sealer and pore filler are compatible and can be applied over each other.

By the way, silicone contamination results in fish eyes that range from 1/8" to 1/4" in diameter, so you must have something else going on.

[David King]

What you had were probably what I call pinholes where the finish is continually sucked into a pore. Grain filling should take care of it. Once they are established they are tricky to fill after the fact. You can drop fill them repeatedly by hand. I've had some luck getting them to fill while spraying by holding the gun at a very low angle and blowing the finish across the top of the hole.

I'm anxious to try the Timbermate brand, water-based grain filler which is sold by woodcraft stores. Has anyone used it yet?

[Mark Swanson]

I have used it, David. I liked it too, it was very easy to apply and thin and clean up. It comes very thick, you have to thin it for use. It sanded very easily too.