Need help on "Dog Hair-ish" type finish on ash

[Jim Bonnell]

I've built an ash semi hollow body I want to do a black finish on with white pore filler to get that Collins dog hair type finish on. I know they use it on mahogany, but I've seen it done on ash and it looked great. I sprayed some scrap with two coats of black EM6000 and after it dried I tried to fill the grain with white Timber Mate. The filler didn't look white enough right out of the container so I added some Color Tone white pigment to it. After rubbing the filler into the grain and using a credit card to scrape off the extra I still had to use a damp cloth to clean off the extra. This ended up taking almost all the filler off. If I let it dry first I'll need to sand off the extra which will end up taking off some of the black. I know there was plenty of grain left after I sprayed the two coats of lacquer. Any ideas on how to do this? Maybe a different filler or a different technique?

[John Sonksen]

Use the thinnest coats of black you can, I also like to take a soft steel brush to the grain first to deepen the pores. Soft is key, if all you can find is stiff bristles (stiff are straight soft are crinkly) just get brass, otherwise you'll be putting scratches all over the wood. Spray a thin color coat, followed by a barrier of vinyl sealer if you can. Do your pore fill, let it dry after scraping and then use 0000 steel wool to take the remaining pore fill residue off the surface. I haven't had good luck using scotch brite for this, it always seems to go through the black. Might try the super fine stuff. If you're using water based be very careful with steel wool, brush it off well and maybe run a magnet all over.

By using a barrier coat of clear you won't abrade the black finish back into the white pore fill, so it's pretty important. If you don't do it you will watch your contrast disappear. Once you do that you should be able to start your top coats.

[Jim Bonnell]

Thanks John. That was a big help.

[John Sonksen]

Thanks John. That was a big help.

no problem Jim, as usual test on scrap!

[Aaron Helt]

Try wiping with a piece of dry burlap. Burlap has the grip to remove semi-dry filler.

[John Sonksen]

Burlap may work, just don't know if it'll cut through to the black, I've never tried it. Forgot to mention Jim, pay extra attention on any corners, round overs etc. That's where you'll wipe through to the color the fastest

[Jim Bonnell]

Thanks guys.