Grain Filler or Stain first?

[VegasCustom]

Hey guys. Hope all is well today.
I've been utilizing a method (with ash and mahogany) of pushing a jet black grain filler into the wood at around 240grit, letting it sit for 24-48 hours, sanding it back, and then staining.
However, I've been reading that this is actually wrong and the filler should go on after the staining?
Can someone help clarify the better method or do both have different desirable results? I have had very satisfactory results with my method so far

 

[Matt Liebenau]

If you stain, or dye if that’s what you’re using, the wood first you’re probably going to sand at least some of the stain off when you sand the filler and have to stain again anyway.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Hey guys. Hope all is well today.
I've been utilizing a method (with ash and mahogany) of pushing a jet black grain filler into the wood at around 240grit, letting it sit for 24-48 hours, sanding it back, and then staining.
However, I've been reading that this is actually wrong and the filler should go on after the staining?
Can someone help clarify the better method or do both have different desirable results? I have had very satisfactory results with my method so far

I agree with Matt. I would do what you are doing now. Fill the grain first, using grain filler that is already colored with pigment. Then sand that back to to make the grain stand out in color, but be flush with the surface. Then apply your overall surface-color stain (or transparent finish tinted with pigment).

What you have been reading is using stain to color the grain, sanding back, then filling the grain with clear or transparent coats of finish. You can do that if you want, but it's much more difficult to control the stain down in the grain. It's more likely to accent the grain in thin fuzzy lines, rather than crisp bold lines. Personally, I don't like my grain fuzzy.

 

[VegasCustom]

I agree with Matt. I would do what you are doing now. Fill the grain first, using grain filler that is already colored with pigment. Then sand that back to to make the grain stand out in color, but be flush with the surface. Then apply your overall surface-color stain (or transparent finish tinted with pigment).

What you have been reading is using stain to color the grain, sanding back, then filling the grain with clear or transparent coats of finish. You can do that if you want, but it's much more difficult to control the stain down in the grain. It's more likely to accent the grain in thin fuzzy lines, rather than crisp bold lines. Personally, I don't like my grain fuzzy.

Ah ok thank you for that clarification