Wood Grain Filler (WGF) fills the pores in the wood to give you the smoothest surface possible.
It is used to fill pock marks (small hollows on the surface in the wood) and help cover up those minor imperfections.
Now, I want to start by clarifying that wood grain filler is NOT wood filler. Wood grain filler is not for holes, gouges, or cracks in the wood, but rather the wood grain itself and small imperfections.
Filling the wood grain before applying your top coat helps eliminate those distracting little pock marks where the finish didn't completely fill the pores. It saves you a ton of time sanding to get the surface perfectly level, and helps you lose less of your precious topcoat.
CrystaLac wood grain filler dries completely clear so you still get to see all the beauty of the wood, yet get the feel of a PERFECTLY SMOOTH surface. It is most often used on tabletops and by guitar makers to create that smooth-like-glass perfect finish ,but it can be used on any project such as floors, furniture etc. It is easy to apply and when top-coated appears COMPLETELY clear, so you can still see the beautiful colors and grain of the wood. If you want to get unique looks you can also tint it with Crystalac Concentrated Pigments.
Here are some application tips and instructions:
Use on Bare wood:
Use one to two coats of amber-tined sanding sealer first to bring out the wet color of the wood. Sand, then apply the wood grain filler. You can rub it into the pores with a lint free rag, or brush it onto the surface and trowel(squeegee) off any excess. Thoroughly dry 2 to 4 hours. Sand smooth and remove any sanding dust with a vacuum or compressed air. Wipe with a damp cloth (water only) and reapply as needed. Do a final sanding and then apply your choice of CrystaLac Top Coat.
Use on Stained Wood :
General Staining - Stain bare wood as directed. If using a solvent or oil based stain, allow ample time for it to thoroughly dry making sure all solvents have evaporated and oils have cured. We suggest using a quality water based stain such as CrystaLac gel-stain for a much quicker and more environmentally safe process. After staining, apply WGF. Sand and reapply if necessary. You can stain over the WGF if any of the stain was sanded off initially. Apply a topcoat and you’re done! For an even grained look, apply WGF first then stain. This will work similar to a stain conditioner and not allow the stain to penetrate and appear darker in the deep wood grains.
Here is a great tutorial by the Owner of CrystaLac Dorinda Shepherd: