Help! I have vacuum bagged a quilted maple veneer on my Bass body. I'll be working with nitro for clear coats, but I'm not sure if I need to grain fill first or ? This pic is what I'm trying to achieve
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Quilted maple veneer tobacco burst finish
- Thread starter Bob McAlister
- Start date
It think depends on the finish you you want. I am guessing you want a smooth, maybe even mirror finish. That requires a grain filler.
Maple does not need a grain filler. In fact, if you fill the grain you will greatly diminish the effect staining has in bringing out the quilt figure.
Typically I would agree Christopher, but as a retired woodworker I know what your saying in regards to 'regular' maple (flatsawn or quartersawn) being very closed grain, but this quilted maple veneer has a lot of open grain. It looks like it's 'rotary cut'. hmmm, and yes, James, I want a super high gloss finished product. Hmmm
I agree with @Christopher DBG, I don't think grain fill will be necessary and the grain will pop beautifully under nitro. 
I will check out Christophers site. Christopher, would it work if I used a vinyl sealer first???? thx!!!!!
I used zpoxy finishing resin on this quilt to fill the more open grain spots and pop the figure. I could easily see using a toner to achieve a burst.
I've had good success keeping the figure strong using a lacquer based vinyl sealer before color coats. Color coats are stain mixed with 80% lacquer thinner and 20% lacquer. Sprayed in a fairly wet coat the figure still draws the stain in well with the sealer. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure it would with a serious grain filler or heavy sanding sealer first.
@Jon Clegg your shop floor looks like the interior of my mind... 
