UV Pore Fill - Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag
In this episode, Robbie O’Brien shows how to apply a UV-curable pore filler.
Video Transcription
[on-screen text reads: Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag]
Mailbag question: What is your preferred product and method for filling pores?
Robert O'Brien: Today's Tips du Jour Mailbag question comes to us from Oregon. "Robert, I have seen you use several different types of pore fill products in your videos. Do you have a preferred product and method when filling pores? Tom, in Oregon."
UV Pore fill product
Tom, like you said, I've used many different products and methods over the years, and basically the method I use or the product I use to pore fill is going to depend on the top coat I'm going to put over it. Now, all of the products and methods that you've seen me demonstrate over the years will work well under just about any type of finish. However, when it comes to UV cured finishes, there's a special pore fill that I like to use. It's a gel product. You wipe it on, it's UV curable, and it's compatible with all the UV curable finishes. In fact, I have a guitar on the bench right now waiting to get this pore fill. So let's go over to the bench and I'll talk you through it.
UV Pore filling method
So here's the pore fill product I'm going to be using. It's a gel product, and this just happens to be made by Cardinal, however, there are other manufacturers that manufacture similar products. All I'm going to do is just take a little bit of the gel and just wipe it on the surface. Now, you can do this with a squeegee, or even a rag or a paper towel, which is what I'm going to use. The important thing is to make sure that you get it off the surface, because if you don't get it all off the surface, then you're looking at a lot of sanding, and if you like sanding, then that's okay. However, I don't. So when I come in and just run it all around and get it all in the pores there [Robert rubs the gel onto the entire guitar body]. Once you get it all in the surface there in the pores, then all you have to do is wave the UV cure lamp over it and life is good. It hardens up and you go right into sanding and then into your top coats.
But like I said though, the important thing is to make sure that you get it off of the surface. Just get it into the pores. And that may mean that you need an application or two to fill all those pores. However, the UV curable top coats are almost 100% solid, so that can be counted on to fill some of the pores as well. So really make sure that you wipe it off well and that's ready to be cured with the UV lamp. I'm going to go ahead and do the rest of the guitar before I get out the lamp.
Using a UV lamp for curing
So here's the guitar after I've wiped on the pore fill. Now I'm going to get on my protective equipment and I'm going to waive the wand and cure it, and it cures instantly.
[Robert puts on a UV protection helmet and works the UV light around the entire guitar body]
So once you zap it with the UV lamp, it's dry to the touch instantly. You can now scuff sand it and apply another coat, or go directly to your top coats.
So Tom, as you can see, this is a very interesting method and product for filling pores. In fact, I know guys that get set up with UV capability in their shop just because of the pore fill advantages alone. So I hope you found this useful.
[on-screen text reads: More Luthier Tips and online courses available at www.obrienguitars.com. Private and small group guitar building and finishing instruction available.]
