Do you need grain filler on maple?
Closed-grain woods do not have the same structure and can be cut with a tight or closed grain at the surface. Maple, cherry, birch and poplar are common examples. They will not need filling in order to achieve a very smooth finish.
How do you get wood grain to pop?
Use a rag and some teak oil to soak the piece then wipe it off to clean the surface. The wax that is inside the grain will fill it in and make it pop out really beautifully. Using contrasting colors of the wax does the best job of enhancing the grain, so light colors in case of dark stains.
What to put on wood to bring out the grain?
When using OIL BASED finishes: The best method for bringing out the natural characteristics of wood grain is to use a penetrating oil like Tung oil, Walnut oil or double boiled Linseed oil.
Are grain fillers necessary?
A grain filler turns a crude-looking guitar body into an exceptional piece. It gives you a smooth glass finish that hours of sanding won’t deliver. But, of course, you want to have the surface as smooth as possible. If you’re applying a finish like lacquer on open-grained woods, you need to use a grain filler first.
Can you use grain filler after staining?
The best practice, therefore, especially with oil-based grain filler, is to stain the wood, apply a washcoat, then apply the grain filler. Here are the reasons: You’ll get better contrast between the pores and the wood, which will create more depth.
How do I make maple look good?
Another commonly used finishing technique on maple is to apply tung oil or linseed oil after the final sanding. These oils tend to bring out the curly or tiger looks of the maple. Follow the oil with a coat or two of shellac. For a more durable finish, top-coat over the shellac with a clear lacquer or polyurethane.
What causes quilted maple?
While there’s some debate about what causes wood to become figured, we know what causes spalting- specifically, a fungus. Spalting can happen in almost any wood species, but it’s mostly found in maple. When the ends of a freshly-cut log are exposed to moisture, a fungus can find its way inside the log and begin to eat.
Does epoxy bring out wood grain?
Applying epoxy to wood is the perfect way to showcase both the beauty of the wood grain, and it also gives the wood four times the thickness of a single coat of polyurethane. The best part is that in a few simple steps, you can achieve a beautiful, bubble-free wooden finish.
Does mineral spirits raise grain?
Mineral spirts won’t raise the grain. It also has the benefit of highlighting any areas of torn grain or scratches before the finish is applied.