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I purchased a new unfinished aftermarket swamp ash Telecaster body. The manufacturer grain filled it with Bartley's Grain Filler (oil based) without any washcoat (the body has only had the grain filler applied). It looks like there are some spots that need touched up. Would it be ok to use Z-poxy to finish the job (any adhesion problems since oil based filler has been used)? I am not concerned with the different colors because it will be a solid color guitar.

Also, if I finish it with Nitro, would it be better to use some kind of poly sealer to prevent shrinkage or just seal it with vinyl sealer.

Thanks

I know nothing about Bartley's grain filler but I would do a test on scrap to insure the Zpoxy will adhere, plus i suspect there will be a noticeable variant in the touched up places and those that will have the Oil based fill with a shim coat of Zpoxy over them. you might consider sanding back to bare wood everywhere and do a fresh fill with Zpoxy.




If you end yp with a Zpoxy fill then the vinyl sealer will be fine.

Thanks for your comments.

Unfortunately, I do not have any Bartley's grain filler to use on a test board. If I end having to by some, I will just use it to finish the job.

I do not understand what you mean by sand back to bare wood. Only the pores are filled (and some are missed). There is no coat of it on the body itself. If I tried to sand it out of the pores, I would be sanding the body too much IMO. In short, I do not want to disturb what has been done. I just want to finish the job.

You also noted that there would be a difference in color and texture. Why would that matter if I am painting the guitar a solid color? Couldn't I just primer to mask the differences before shooting the solid color?

Could I just clean the body good with Naptha and then apply the Z-Poxy?

I guess this may be one of those things where I just need to buy the Bartleys and continue using it to not take any chances.

Thanks

I did not know if you were going to do a translusent finish or a painted. Odds are if you are going to prime and paint then all will be fine.

Rather than take a chance on the Z-Poxy having a problem with the Bartley Grain Filler, I just ordered a pint of the Bartley to finish the job. It was only $10 plus $6 for shipping.

In hind sight, I should have just filled it myself (I paid extra for the service when I ordered the body), and I think the Z-Poxy is what I would want to use for a grain filler.

I guess I will get to try the Z-Poxy on my next build.

Thanks for your comments.

I have been for several years, probably the number one proponent for Zpoxy pore filling here on this forum. But recently I have been doing a few tests using Starbond medium thick CA as my pore filler. I am taken back at the ease and time frame of this process. So far just one session on a body has been 100% successful in filling all pores. and seems to get into the pores better with little or no shrinkage. I can fill that morning and sand back to wood and seal the body that early afternoon.

For a solid color electric guitar, the easiest non-shrinking pore filler is Bondo. You don't need oil based or epoxy, which are harder to work with and get flat. CA glue is costly and the fumes are hazardous. Those products are useful for transparent finishes, but will make your job harder without any benefit.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Bondo. Very interesting. I never heard of that product being used on wood. I visit the reranch website (nitro finishing board for electric guitars) and I do not think anyone every mentioned it over there either. Of course, if it works for solid color electric guitars and it is the easiest way to do it, I am all for that. Thanks. I will check that out.

Good ole joint compount works well too. Says right on the label "feels gap and sands easily"