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what does everyone tend to use for filling pores on mahogany necks.

I have used dust and shellac before with fairly good results, anyone use zpoxy on neck?

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Yup, all the time. Just coat and rub it in/on with a vinyl gloved finger and sand back, repeat 2/3 times.
Bit of a learning curve sanding back curved surfaces, I usually start with a light touch and card scraper followed by P180/240 backed with various erasers.
Last coat is thinned and scuffed with scotchbrite after removing any nibs with a single edged razor.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I use z-poxy on mahogany necks pretty much the same as Colin. Works great.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Traditional pumice pore fill for me. Works well most of the time. The fingerboard edge can be a challenge, though. Not enough room to do the normal rubbing around to get the mud down in the pores. It works out eventually.

Because necks are thicker pieces of wood which don't move as much with humidity swings I don't mind them having a relatively thick finish so on moderately close grained woods like walnut and mahogany I just self seal with the finish material and don't pore fill

I'm with Colin...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I typically use a traditional oil based filler on necks. I like the way it stains it and it does a fine job filling it.

I pore fill my mahogany necks with the Rosewood LMI micro-bead filler from LMI.
It is easy to use and the colour is quite dark, which pops the grain.

I used paste pore fillers for the first few mahogany necks, often with some brown and red to make them match rosewood bodies. Lately I have been using strictly Zpoxy and I'm much happier with the results. Here is a solid mahogany body filled with Zpoxy (don't have a picture of the neck but it looks the same)



Here is one being stained to match cocobolo and then pore filled with Zpoxy

Nice one on matching that stained neck to the body.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I have been trying different fillers to see if there is a difference. this is what I found out for me
A pore o pac is good but can be tricky to learn how to use
B LMI water based filler applied with a paper towel 2 coats use a sealer before and after works like a dream
C Aqua Coat Easy to use. seal with shellac before and after best filler I ever used
D E Poxy works but too much work compared to aqua coat it can also leave a sealed footprint under finish
E egg whites and dust Messy but works
F dust and shellac compared to aqua coat too much work
In all I have to say the aqua coat is easy and you can apply the 2nd coat in 45 min
Both the LMI filler and aqua coat are water based so easy clean up

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Aqua Coat is working well for me too. Super easy. Shellac before and after as John says.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Aqua coat sounds interesting, just wondering about the grain "pop" compared to Zepoxy, the shellac may help of course - ?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I do think that Zpoxy 'pops' the finish a little bit more but I am happy with shellac/Aqua Coat and love the convenience.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

+1 for me. Good old Pumice and blond shellac. I find you can't beat the color match.

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