One of the keys to getting a great finish on an electric guitar body made from mahogany, is filling the grain. Mahogany has a very porous surface. If its not filled correctly the clear coat finish will sink into the pores and you will end up with a surface that is not smooth, and it will be all but impossible to sand it smooth.
One way to solve this problem is to use a wood filler to fill those tiny pores. There are many different methods to fill the grain, but for this project I chose to use Timber Mate wood filler. Timber Mate is a water based, non-toxic product. It can be thinned out with water to whatever consistency you need it to be. I thinned mine out so I could wipe it on with a rag. I used a swirling motion to wipe it on, this gets the filler in the pores from all directions to ensure good coverage.
Once its dry, you just sand the Timber Mate off and you’re left with a nice non-porous surface that’s ready for your finish of choice.
Check out the video of the entire process below.

— Affiliate Links to Products Used —
Timbermate Mahogany Filler – https://amzn.to/2PNq02x
Putty Knife – https://amzn.to/3cvIJJo

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