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Grain fill black palm next to maple.

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Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Peri » 25 Dec 2021, 19:58

My latest project is a black palm and maple chessboard.


The palm has a very open texture that needs filling before finishing (a soft french polish). I've tried some Rustins grain filler darkened with a touch of oil colour. My main concern was that it would stain the maple - this didn't seem to happen, but by the time I'd sanded the board back to the point that the maple was clean, it looks like most of the filler in the palm has either been sanded away or pulled out.


Whats the best way to approach this? My next thought is shellac (or cellulose) sanding sealer first, then grain fill....... or is there a better way?
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby droogs » 25 Dec 2021, 20:33

The hard way, mask off the Maple with masking tape and then fill. Then a very watery poly or preferably shellac that will soak in. After drying remove tape and sand from 150/180 to 320, clean off and then start the clear coat of choice.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Peri » 25 Dec 2021, 22:20

droogs wrote:The hard way, mask off the Maple with masking tape ..........


Yeahhh..........not happening :D :D :D :D
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Mike G » 25 Dec 2021, 22:33

I reckon it looks great with the open grain. I'm not your customer, though.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Peri » 25 Dec 2021, 22:51

I haven't got a buyer for this one yet - the palm was an experiment.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Malc2098 » 26 Dec 2021, 00:27

I'd try resin filling. It's used on classical guitars and French polished over the top.

I can point you to a YT vid or two.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Phil » 26 Dec 2021, 13:16

Stupid question -

Could you not stain the palm as dark as possible before cutting it up into squares?
I am not sure if palm would fume very well, the fuming tends to get right into the grain and makes the staining darker a lot easier.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Peri » 26 Dec 2021, 13:28

I won't stain the board, just the sanding sealer will darken the palm considerably.

My problem - although the more I look, the more I'm beginning to think it might not be a problem at all - is that the palm is a very, very open grain, especially compared to the maple next to it.

Maybe I should just embrace the difference between the smooth light and the coarse dark.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Peri » 26 Dec 2021, 17:41

Well, I spent an hour or so sanding it, added a decent coat of shellac sanding sealer, sanded it again, and put on a first coat of FP.

It's starting to take a nice shine,

20211226_142538.jpg
(201.1 KiB)


I've never used black palm before, only wiped it over with a bit of white spirit to get an idea of what it looks like finished, and with the spirit it goes almost black. The sealer and FP has kept it much, much lighter than I expected.

20211226_142622.jpg
(143.9 KiB)


Looking forward to seeing what another light sand and polish does tomorrow :)

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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby AJB Temple » 26 Dec 2021, 18:41

I think it looks really good.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Peri » 26 Dec 2021, 19:09

Thanks Ade :)
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Malc2098 » 26 Dec 2021, 22:23

Nice.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Cabinetman » 27 Dec 2021, 01:32

Yes looks really professional, and the dark bits make it look dark enough but still interesting- imagine they were totally black, it would be way too much. Ian
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Phil » 27 Dec 2021, 12:18

Cabinetman wrote:Yes looks really professional, and the dark bits make it look dark enough but still interesting- imagine they were totally black, it would be way too much. Ian


Yes, agree, nice work.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby TrimTheKing » 27 Dec 2021, 13:12

Very nice mate. That palm looks a bit like a tighter patterned zebrano.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Peri » 27 Dec 2021, 16:28

Thanks folks.

Once it's done I'll post a couple of decent pictures up.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Craig Salisbury » 21 Jan 2022, 12:32

late as ever, but morells do a decent clear grain filler. looks stunning as is though!
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Woodster » 22 Jan 2022, 19:15

I’ve just got some Rustins grain filler for a particular job and it says on the tin to let it harden overnight. It also says to thin it with white spirit but I’m wondering if I could use cellulose thinners instead and if that would make it dry any quicker?
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Craig Salisbury » 22 Jan 2022, 19:52

I have no idea about that, I use this which is good but also states dry overnight.

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Last edited by Craig Salisbury on 22 Jan 2022, 19:57, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Grain fill black palm next to maple.

Postby Woodster » 23 Jan 2022, 13:22

I also read that the Rustins stuff can be tinted with their spirit stains.
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