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http://www.rockler.com/tech/RTD20000173AA.pdf

hmmm...it would appear as if it has both acetone and MEK (which is a solvent for nitrocellulose)

I use Teflon cards UHMW would work as well. If the pores are say like Mahogany one coat will do the trick. Two if very porous works just like epoxy but with more nasal kick

use a resperator

How does an epoxy glue when used as a grain filler over more traditional materials compare tonally?

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

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Tony my friend not to disagree with you but lots of folks use epoxy finishing resins as pore fillers with excellent results and I have yet to hear of an example where the epoxy pore fill lost it adhesion.

Some will sand it back to the wood leaving the epoxy only in the pores and some leave a very thin film on the surface of the guitar. Epoxy finishing resins such as Z-Poxy and System III and West Systems epoxy sand quite easily in my experience and much easier than the water based filler that Stew-Mac sells.

As for yellowing - how old does a guitar have to be for this to happen?

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After reading this topic and heard about using egg white, and I was just ready to pore fill the latest build, I thought I'd give it a try. I usually use WEST Systems, but it's kinda messy.

The body is EIR and has huge pores. I would think with the epoxy it would take 3 goes to get them completely filled. Not knowing how to go about this, I took a stab at taking a bit of 180 grit sandpaper, dipped it into the egg white, then started to sand the surface in a circular motion to work up a slurry, and rub it into the pores. I found it was best to not keep sanding until it completely dried up, as it seemed to pull the fill out of the pores. It was best to leave a very thin film of slurry on the wood, then go onto the next area. Just working small areas at a time.

I let it dry for about 3 hours, and it seemed to be quite dry, so I sanded back with some more 180 grit back to the bare wood. It filled the pores beautifully. I can only see a few areas that are going to need some more fill.

It's cheap and much easier than epoxy to apply and sand back. The wood under epoxy tends to turn very dark. With the egg white it stayed much lighter and brighter. That's kinda important for dark woods that have really nice figure that you don't want to loose by turning too dark.

It's gets my vote.

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Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia

I've started using boogers. I carry around a little jar and collect them throughout the day. Totally natural. Totally free. Totally awesome.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

And ear wax on koa.

That sounds great about the egg whites, I am going to try that for sure. Thanks for posting your experience.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

I tried it this evening too. I used 600 grit with the egg white, and followed your method, but it did leave some fine circular scratch marks though. However, as a matter of interest I went finer with grits, and ended up with micromesh..... and I didn't go right back down to the wood.... it came up really silky! You could make varnish out of that stuff!!

Oh yes... and the pores were filled perfectly. I am working at the moment with some very pale Honduras mahogany, and I am trying to keep it light straw/golden coloured. This was the ideal solution.

I know what I will be using in future!

Rod

Thanks for all the tips! I never would have thought of egg whites. I wonder if the whites would cook if the instrument were left in the sun?

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

The Rose wood that I'm using at the present is hard as, so the 180 grit doesn't leave any marks on it. For softer woods I suspect much finer grits as you mentioned would be more suitable. I did a demonstration of this technique at the local woodworkers guild this past weekend, and the members were amazed at it's user friendliness and results.

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Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia