Mahogany body, pore fill or sanding sealer first?

[Jamie Unden]

Which should come first, sanding sealer and sand to 220, or pore filler?

[David King]

Jamie,
What are you putting over this? Clear? Stain? Paint? I'm not sure it make much difference but I'm sure folks will have an opinion.

[Jamie Unden]

Target Waterborne, maybe tinted with dye.

[Barry Daniels]

I think pore filler works easier and better on a lightly sealed surface.

[Alan Carruth]

If there's any color in the pore filler it can look muddy if you don't seal the grain. Sand back to the wood after filling, and if you need a second coat of filler seal again. I use shellac, but it will depend on the finish you're going to use. If you use something other than the final finish as a sealer be aware that it could have a different refractive index than the finish material. In that case sealer on the surface can give a 'veiled' look, and if it's spotty it can look bad. Usually sanding sealers are formulated to go with the finish that goes over them, so if you stick with the manufacturers advice it should be fine.

[Jamie Unden]

Thanks, guys! I'll seal it first, then fill.