Contrasting grain filling sapele

Sapele is a beautiful wood in its own right, with the chatoyance of the grain making alternating gold and brown highlights. By taking ebony Timber Mate wood filler to fill the grain, I increase the contrast of the black filled pores with the already existing brown and gold highlights, making the wood even more beautiful.
#luthier
#guitarfinishing
#sapele

[@TheVectorious]

Looks great! Glad you’re back. Missed the videos!

[@zwitchguitars]

Aw man, thanks! I'll most likely be participating in GGBO this year, and also plan to learn how to build an acoustic, so lots more videos should be happening in the coming months

[@JohnK-id1zj]

Looking at my first grain fill project, this was very helpful. Thank you!

[@rrsatl]

That grain filler was pretty cool. I had not seen that used before.

[@zwitchguitars]

It's a cool, subtle effect. You see it a bit on oak dining room tables and furniture, where it appears the furniture has black flecks in it. That's colored grain filler. There's lots of colors, including clear as well, when you want a glassy finish but don't want to highlight the pores.

[@camsprocket]

Very inspiring... Thanks for your time... Cant wait to start my refin project!!!

[@zwitchguitars]

Thanks! What are you going to do for the refin?

[@camsprocket]

@@zwitchguitars I'm restoring a Gibson Les Paul Standard. I referenced your hand applied lemon burst tutorial video which by the way was awesome. Then I'm going to finish it with Aerosol Nitro lacquer. I purchased the Gibson Husk already completely sanded so that certainly helps. This is my first time doing this so I may ask a few light questions along the way if you don't mind.

[@zwitchguitars]

@@camsprocket Don’t mind at all, glad to help. Sounds like a cool project!

[@carlodevivomusicontent2138]

What grit do you use to sand back the filler?

[@zwitchguitars]

I don’t remember specifically from this project, but in general I start at something like 220, and if that’s not fast enough drop down to 150 then back up to 220.
The goal is to *just* sand off the filler where it’s on top of the guitar, but leave it in the pores. So using higher grit keeps you from going too fast and removing all of the filler

[@borgonianevolution]

The grain filler worked nice. I probably should have used it on my GGBO last year. I did however get that awesome color change effect under the oil. It looks alive as it changes from a goldish color to a deep chocolate depending on grain and light. My preference on this one would have been a lighter filler as when you wiped the back with the naphtha it almost looked like it had dirty spots. Not sure if that's a camera vs monitor thing though. That top REALLY came alive when you wiped it though. That is going to look gorgeous.

[@zwitchguitars]

Yeah, I think that was the lighting. But, there's also an opportunity to clean it up a bit more, I have a few more grits to get through before finishing!
Are you doing anything for GGBO this year?

[@borgonianevolution]

@@zwitchguitars I have a plan I just need to source wood to work with. But being on a fixed income and everyone riding that lets exploit Covid and riding that "we can't get things shipped" bus to drive up prices on EVERYTHING I'm not sure how soon it will be before its a choice of grocery shopping or guitar building. For now I am gearing up to restore my 1986 Washburn RR11v and got the first video up. Will be buying a cheap palm sander when this months income hits the mailbox. Then I will start the break down process.

[@zwitchguitars]

@@borgonianevolution Are you in the U.S.? If so, send me an email [e-mail]

[@dlux703]

It would have been a lot more informative to have the camera closer in on the actual work you were doing. It's impossible to see any results or detail in that body from so far away. I'm still guessing whether you made any difference in the look of the guitar.

[@zwitchguitars]

Thanks for the feedback