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I just finished my 3rd coat of epoxy and it is all level but still can see the grain a little bit. It almost seems like the 3rd coat never helped. It looks the same as the second coat did. They are almost there i think. I feel like when I start spraying sealer they will fill in. Am I right or do they need to be completely level now

Apply some naphtha on the surface and leave it wet. Look at it at an angle in the light and see if you see the pores. With three coats of epoxy, you should see none, unless your technique for applying the epoxy needs some work. Sealer may fill some in but is more work than epoxy. You'll have to really build and level a lot.

Also, make sure to work the epoxy in a couple directions, not just side to side or top to bottom.


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If you are sanding back to wood (not a bad technique) you can open new pores. I leave a thin layer of epoxy on the wood.

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You didn't mention if you have level sanded the epoxy yet? Or maybe sanding back to bare wood?

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

My preference is to leave a thin layer of epoxy -- sanding back to bare wood for me is a bit of a hassle plus as mentioned, there is a tendency to pull out the filler as well as the reveal of more/new pores during the sanding process.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I am leaving a thin layer. I actually just sanded some more and it seams like they are going away. Doesn't seem right

I've noticed that also with epoxy. (if, 'it seams like they are going away', means the pores are disappearing) What looks like pores can disappear with a good level sanding.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Those who "leave a thin layer" - how do you know when you have that?

Ed

Sand throughs jump right out and are easy to see.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

It may be that you need to thin the epoxy a bit with denatured alcohol. I was having some trouble filling my latest guitar, and thinning the epoxy was the solution. I probably thinned it 30%, but just eyeball and feel it out.

I just sand the ridges left from the razor blade applicator and lightly sand the rest once it is level.

One more thought. Zpoxy is thick and it is really easy to bridge pores instead of filling them. Those pores can show up as the thin cap sags. Also they will open during level sanding. The zpoxy needs to be forcibly pushed or smushed into the pores. WHile I am working in zpoxy in an area I first want to see small bubbles coming up, showing my technique is forcing the zpoxy in the pores, then I want to see the bubbles stop, the pores are filled. James Orr suggestion of diluting would make it easier to fill the pores also some warm up zpoxy to make it flow better.

Instead of sanding down to a thin layer, I sand until level, often to wood in places. I then use a cotton rag to wipe on a diluted last coat of epoxy covering any exposed wood.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Ditto

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/