Everything for building and repairing stringed instruments!

Your order | Account | Saved list

Home : Finishing supplies : Fillers and putties : ColorTone Waterbase Grain Filler


Tell me more

Departments

MORE FROM STEWMAC

Shop by instrument

Free information

Gift certificates

New items

Web exclusives

E-mail newsletter

ColorTone Waterbase Grain Filler

For filling the pores of open-grained woods such as mahogany, walnut, ash, koa and rosewood before spraying sealer and topcoats. Apply the filler, let it set, and remove the excess with the leveler tool.

ColorTone^® grain filler can be used under waterbase or nitrocellulose finishes, and can be tinted with ColorTone liquid stains before application.

See details below

Item#	Description	In stock	Price	Quantity
5576	Clear, 1 pint	Yes	$16.25


5577	Medium brown, 1 pint	Yes	$21.60


5578	Black, 1 pint	Yes	$21.95

Selected currency

Details

Pictures

Waterbase Finishing Schedule

Standard process for finishing an instrument with waterbase lacquer

i-waterbase Updated 06/06

Special waterbase application tip

Waterbase finish doesn't look wet and glossy as you're spraying, unlike nitrocellulose lacquer. Be careful not to lay it on too thick, looking for that glossy wetness. Good lighting is very important. Spray light coats, carefully overlap your spray pattern by 1/3-1/2 for coverage with uniform thickness.

This newly-sprayed coat is wet, but looks dry and pebbly (like orange peel).

Moments later, it turns wet and glossy.

When finally dry, it turns satin-smooth.

Wood preparation
Clean surface of dust and oils.
Sand to 220-grit.

Stain (optional)
ColorTone Concentrated Liquid Stain
Dissolved in water or alcohol.

Porous wood
Rosewood, Mahogany,
Ash, Koa, Walnut, etc.

Non-porous wood
Maple, Spruce, Alder,
Ebony, Basswood, etc.

Washcoat (optional)
1-2 coats • 2-hours apart
Thin down sanding sealer for a wash coat by mixing it 50:50 with water.
ColorTone Waterbase Sanding Sealer

Full instructions

Grain filler
Fill wood. Sand with 320-grit before next coat.
ColorTone Waterbase Grain Filler

Full instructions

Sanding sealer
12-16 coats • 3-4 coats per day • 2-3 hours apart
Do not exceed 48 hours between sealer coats.
If it's been over 48 hours, you must sand with 320-grit so that future coats will adhere.
Allow final sealer coats to dry 24 hours prior to topcoats.
ColorTone Waterbase Sanding Sealer

Full instructions

Color coats (optional)
ColorTone Concentrated Liquid Stain
or ColorTone Liquid Pigment for Waterbase Lacquer
can be added to sanding sealer or lacquer steps.
1-3 coats • 2-3 coats per day • 2-hours apart

Clear topcoats
9-12 coats • 3-4 coats per day • 2-3 hours apart
Allow to cure for one week prior to sanding and buffing.
ColorTone Waterbase Lacquer

Full instructions

Wet-sand and buff
Allow finish to cure 6-days
Wet sand with 1200-grit and finer sanding papers.
Buff to a high gloss.

Tips on buffing

Nitrocellulose Finishing Schedule

Standard process for finishing an instrument with nitrocellullose lacquer

i-nitrocellulose Updated 06/06

Introduction

Nitrocellulose lacquer is synonymous with well-crafted, vintage and modern instruments. It's relatively easy to apply and buff to a beautiful, high gloss finish. The look, feel, and tone of nitrocellulose is hard to surpass, and it is easier than many finishes to repair or touch-up.

Stringed Instrument Lacquer produces a hard, durable finish that's less brittle and more flexible than standard furniture lacquer, to accommodate the expansion and contraction of wooden instruments. The finish has better resistance to cold-checking and scuffs. It's ready to spray with no thinning required, for faster finish build-up in multiple coats.

Application tips
Nitrocellulose finishes should have a total 6-12 coats — sealer, color, and clear coats combined. The total number will depend upon how thick your coats are, how much sanding you do, and what your final desired film thickness is. Beginners should spray 10-12 coats to avoid sanding or buffing through the finish. As you gain experience, you'll find that fewer coats are required.

The first coat should be a light, misting coat to the instrument — often referred to as a "tack-coat." After 45-minutes or so, apply your another, more deliberate "wet-coat." Future coats should be wet, and be sure to give 1-2 hours between coats to allow the solvents to rise out of the finish. Be careful when applying wet-coats, as it's easy to create a run or sag on edges, or while trying to apply finish into the tighter areas of an instrument.

If you do get a run or sag, simply let the finish harden (24-hours) and level sand the blemish using 400-grit sandpaper and a backing block.

Wood Preparation
• Clean up surface imperfections
• Sand to 220-grit

Stain (optional)
ColorTone Concentrated Liquid Stains
dissolved in water or alcohol

Porous Wood
Rosewood, Mahogany,
Ash, Koa, Walnut, etc.

Non-Porous Wood
Maple, Spruce, Alder,
Ebony, Basswood, etc.

Washcoat (optional)
1-2 coats • 1-2 hours apart
Washcoats are very thin coats using thinned finish. We recommend thinning your finish 50:50.

ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer
— or —
ColorTone Aerosol Clear Sanding Sealer
— or —
Behlen Nitrocellulose Stringed Instrument Lacquer
— or —
Behlen Nitrocellulose Vinyl Sealer
— or —
ColorTone Shellac

Grain filler
ColorTone Waterbase Grain Filler
Natural for light woods,
medium brown or black for dark woods.

Refer to the instructions for application and uses.

Sealer
Build a level surface with
ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer
— or —
ColorTone Aerosol Clear Sanding Sealer
— or —
Behlen Nitrocellulose Stringed Instrument Lacquer
— or —
Behlen Nitrocellulose Vinyl Sealer
3-4 coats • 2-3 coats per day • 1-2 hours apart

Color Coats (optional)
Behlen Nitrocellulose Stringed Instrument Lacquer
tinted with ColorTone Concentrated Liquid Stains
or colored with ColorTone Liquid Pigments
1-3 coats • 2-3 coats per day • 1-2 hours apart

Clear Coats
ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer
— or —
Behlen Nitrocellulose Stringed Instrument Lacquer
4-10 coats (4-8 for thin "vintage" finish)
• 2-3 coats per day • 1-2 hours apart

Wet Sand and Buff
Allow finish to cure 4-days
Wet sand with 800-grit and finer sanding papers, then buff to a high-gloss using sanding papers, polishes, and buffers. For more information on buffing and polishing, click here.

ColorTone Waterbase Grain Filler

Application instructions

i-5576 Updated 04/04

ColorTone Grain Filler is designed to fill in the pores in any open grained woods such as ash, mahogany, rosewood, walnut, and koa. It will produce a hard, smooth non-shrinking base prior to the application of stains and finishes.

Application
1. Prepare surface by sanding to 220-grit. Remove all dust, oil and solvents from the surface. Apply ColorTone stain (if desired) to the bare wood.
2. Brush on ColorTone Grain Filler liberally in the direction of the grain. Allow 3-5 minutes to dry. Work in small areas of 6" or less at a time.
3. Use a grain filler spreader or plastic card to squeegee off excess filler. Wipe at a 45 angle to the grain.
4. When dry, wipe off remaining residue with a clean dry cloth. Sand surface with 320-grit sandpaper.
5. Clean up with soap and water.

Notes

If additional filling is required, allow 2 hours drying time between fills. Re-apply stain if desired.

ColorTone grain filler can be tinted with Color Tone liquid stains or waterbase pigments before application.

Allow drying 2-4 hours before applying ColorTone Waterbase Guitar Lacquer or Sealer. Allow 24 hours before applying nitrocellulose based coats of ColorTone Guitar Lacquer or Sealer.

Keep from freezing.

Use in well ventilated areas. Avoid inhaling residue.

Keep out of the reach of children.

EMERGENCY FIRST-AID PROCEDURES
INGESTION: Administer large amounts of water. Induce vomiting. SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION

EYES: Flush with fresh water for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention.

SKIN: Flush with fresh water for 15 minutes.

INHALATION: Remove exposed person to well ventilated area. Treat symptomatically. USE IN WELL VENTILATED AREAS. AVOID INHALING RESIDUE.

WARNING: This product contains a chemical(s) known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects.

#5576 CLEAR COMPOSITION INGREDIENTS:

Compound Name	CAS#
Urethane Copolymer Resin	Proprietary
Acrylic Resin	Proprietary
N-Methylpyrrolidone	872-50-4
Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether	34590-94-8
Water	7732-18-5
VOC Content: 50 Grams Per Liter/0.41 Pounds Per Gallon
HAPS Content: 0.0

#5577 MEDIUM BROWN COMPOSITION INGREDIENTS:

Compound Name	CAS#
Urethane Copolymer Resin	Proprietary
Acrylic Resin	Proprietary
N-Methylpyrrolidone	872-50-4
Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether	34590-94-8
Crystalline Silica	14808-60-7
Carbon Black Pigment	1333-86-4
Water	7732-18-5
VOC Content: 50 Grams Per Liter/0.41 Pounds Per Gallon
HAPS Content: 0.0

#5578 BLACK COMPOSITION INGREDIENTS:

Compound Name	CAS#
Urethane Copolymer Resin	Proprietary
Acrylic Resin	Proprietary
N-Methylpyrrolidone	872-50-4
Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether	34590-94-8
Crystalline Silica	14808-60-7
Carbon Black Pigment	1333-86-4
Water	7732-18-5
VOC Content: Less than 200 grams per liter
HAPS Content: 0.0

Shown on page 39 of our latest catalog.

Toll-free order line:

800-848-2273

9am-6pm Eastern Time, M-F

Your order | Your account | Trade Secrets E-mail Newsletter

Home | Free catalog | Catalog Quick Order | International | Customer service

Our guarantee | Shipping | Security & Privacy | Contact us

Site map | About Us | Employment