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I have another newbie question. On the guitar I am currently finishing up, which is my first guitar to build for someone else, a friend at church, I inlaid a back strip over the joint. The strip is wooden mosaic type. After sanding the back flat, I sprayed a coat of vinyl sealer then began the pore filler process. I used the type that is mahogany colored. Is there anyway to keep the pore filler color off the back strip. I was extremely careful, using an old credit card to spread it. I didn't end up with a mess, but in a couple of places, I can see where the color got on some of the white parts of the inlay strip. Any suggestions for technique or process? thanks in advance! Tom Harbin

Tom,
you could do a couple of things. Masking the strip with tape would keep
the filler out of the inlay pores (the vinyl sealer should have kept it from
coloring the wood itself). You could use epoxy as a filler so that you're
not adding any colorant. At this point you could try taking a single edged
razor blade and use it as a scraper to remove the color from the inlay,
provided the color isn't too deep. Just some immediate thoughts, but I'm
sure someone else will come up with better ideas.
Craig

Tom,
you are on the right track. If you sprayed a coat of vinyl sealer then you shouldn't have any problem.
Another tenchique is to apply a solution of 50% lacquer or sanding sealer and 50% thinner to lighter colored bindings and purflings or even inlay strips. Use a Q tip for cleaning your ears to apply it. It just "brushes"right on. Then fill your pores. When sanding back the pore filler the sealer just sands off with it. If there is any light staining then just scrape it clean with a razor blade.