Refinish Prep Questions with Pics

[morningstar]

Progress pics on the Chapparal project. At this point most sanding is done. The pics show various preexisting dings and chips. The wow on the rear bevel is my fault...I will adjust the angle. Oh well. I am thinking a large metal flake finish, so imperfections will be somewhat masked.

Having never done this before, I have a couple questions related to this sand-and-fill phase:

Can or should I use my favorite all around ding-filler: Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty?

How do I get all the sanding dust off the wood when I am really done filling and sanding?

Pics follow

Thanks

morningstar

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"BEFORE" PICS:

[RobB]

Caveat: I am NOT a re-finishing expert, though I did work in the finish dept. at a custom cabinet shop in Chicago, and also spent time with an antique refinisher in the same industrial complex. This was the 90's, so take my advice for what it's worth.

One trick is to use coarse cheesecloth over the body when the filler has dried. This will hog-off the excess/high-spots of filler while leaving the filled indents intact.

You may have to check to see if the water-based filler has raised the surrounding grain. No crisis there, just make sure you level everything carefully and s-l-o-w-l-y with a sanding block and wet/dry sanding paper. Check the paper constantly for clogging and replace when necessary.

Your eyes CAN deceive you. Do a "Ray Charles": close your eyes and rub your hands over the sanded area and see if your fingers pick up any problem spots.

Once you have everything sanded, compressed air and a finer grade cheesecloth will take up most of the stray, fine particles. Surgeon's gloves help to keep finger oils off the primed wood.

Remember the painter's mantra: "Your Finish Is Only As Good As Your SUBSTRATE."

[zenmindbeginner]

If you want to use a wood filler as a grain filler, use Timbermate mahogany.

You'll thank me later because it easily cleans up with water, dries super fast and is extremely easy to work with. Plus, you can use it with any kind of finish and the mahogany color will match the wood quite well.

You just need to make a paste with it. Wear gloves and smear it all over with your hands. Fuck the credit card, it is worthless compared to what your hands can do. You can "Ray Charles" the body much better with your hands and fingers than you can with anything else. You won't miss a damn thing if you use your hands.

As it dries, rub the filler into the body and work it with your bare hands, wiping off the excess powder as the filler dries, if you do this, you won't have much sanding to do and will have a body as smooth as a baby's rear.

This stuff dries strong as hell and sands rather effortlessly unlike most oil or water based grain fillers. It's a fantastic product and will most likely be your new favorite wood filler.

It's stinky, so wear a breather and or do it in a well ventilated area and not the kitchen table.

You won't need the cheesecloth either.

Go for the Timbermate... like I said, you'll thank me later.

[morningstar]

Thanks. I had watched the Stew Mac video on Timbermate. Stinky's OK, I will just use it in the garage.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supp...b=Video#details

I have some coarse cheesecloth.

morningstar