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I've been on this pumice stage all week now. Should absolutely all grain texture be gone before I continue. You can see from the picture in the bright lamp lit area there is still a little grain expression. Will this fill in the body session?

A complete fill, fills the pores to surface level but does not necessarily get rid of all texture.

Looks like I can see pumice on the back. I am not sure on the sides.

I also see muneca swril marks. these are nothing and dissapear with a good sprit-off.

Are my ciculed areas pumice or light reflection. if pumice,you were using too much in that area way too much.


The rest looks real good. It is hard to tell for sure but the back looks filled. The side still needs some on areas

Muti over head lights make it hard to really see what is going on.
MichaelP38884.7097916667

I'll have to go back and take another look but I don't think those areas are pumice because they are clear when viewed in direct light and there are no more rough textured areas, I think it's muneca swirls, the glancing light makes them look hazy. I photographed in glancing light because it tends to look deceivingly good in direct light.

Good eye on the sides, the back is better filled because I tend to gravitate toward areas that are easier to work on. I'll go back for another round of filling on the sides.

Will the body session fill any at all or just magnify those areas not filled?

Thanks

Yes boding will fill some. What will happen is film will build evenly every where so if ther are dips the dips will be lower. but as you body the guitar and sprit-off you will gradually level everything out. Imight take 8-12 sessiond instead of 6-8 but it will get there.

I highly recemend that you sprit-off after second body session and every body session ther after. This will help keep a level surface and if you get lucky will mean no level sanding prior to glazing.

If you don feel any grit from the pumice and after another fill session on the some spots on the side. I would say your good to go.

When you body besure to keep you load a bit dryer than you think and watch for the solvent cloud to appear and disappear behind your muneca if you don't see it then it is time to reload. it is better to add a little more oil than it is to add shellac to keep from draging. Too much shellac and you pull off more than you lay down. The oil will rise ro the top and the spriting-off will remove it. Boding session will remain dull after spriting-off so dont get discouraged if not looking shiny during boding. The shine comes during glazing.

Thanks Michael, great information, very helpful. I had my doubts when I began this French Polish finish but now I believe it's going to come out looking good.