Pore filling with maple bindings

[P_Heikkinen]

First build D-41 Martin kit

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A couple of question for the masters...
I will be starting my second build shortly. EIR b/s with maple bindings. Here is the question...if I use a rosewood tinted pore filler on the b/s, will it stain the maple bindings, or is the maple tight grained enough not to accept the filler? Would scraping the bindings remove any residual staining?

My obvious option is epoxy filler.

I am thinking of trying a waterborne finish. My first guitar was nitrocellulose through a Rockler HVLP sprayer. The finish is Ok, but very thin. It's holding up fine.

Will th HVLP sprayer work ok with waterborne, or should I get a coventional touch up gun, and compressor?

PHH

[John Parchem]

The HVLP will happily spray a water based finish. I would seal the maple bindings before the pore fill. I use shellac as it can work over and under a zpoxy pore fill. Also I would leave the fill either clear if epoxy or if using an opaque filler tinted black or very dark. Otherwise I find the look to be muddy.

[ken cierp]

I've given the WB finishes a fair chance -- nitro wins, except for the "green concerns" I see no advantage for water base.

I'll say the first thing, is that most new finishers tend to put on way too little coating on the project -- the idea that a very thin finish is necessary to end up with a fine sounding guitar is way over stated and actually a myth. True you don't want globs of top coat - but there must be enough to level and polish properly.

A couple of coats of sealer needs to be sprayed before applying Pore O Pac -- especially on the light wood trim and for sure plenty on the sound-board for protection against the staining action of the filler. Flexible masking tape is available at the auto body paint supply -- but in the end you'll end up doing some scraping to get the Maple clean and bright -- the sealer makes this a little easier.

Since it has been determied that Zpoxy is compatible with nitro -- it now just makes sense for my preferred pore filler.