I have a beautiful mahogany bar top that was built in place and finished with Waterlox about 10 years ago. It’s always bothered me how the grain disrupts what could be a beautifully smooth finish, though it sill shows great depth and warmth.
I’d like to fill the grain and ultimately get to a hand rubbed finish if possible. Just not sure if the Waterlox needs to be be stripped down before using grain filler, or if it’s best to just proceed building up with Waterlox and knocking back the high points. That just seems counterproductive and wasteful.
Most of the forums I’ve visited come at this from the beginning of the project when the wood is still raw. Welcoming any suggestions for the proper way to get that hand rubbed super-smooth finish given my starting point.
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The grain has been partially filled with finish already, and then the little pockets coated with everything from beer to cleaners over the 10 years of use. I think an attempt to pack filler into the now-sealed grain will fail.
The 2 moves you mentioned will probably both work, though neither will be fun.
Looks like you are looking for the second step of french polishing which is done with pumice stone and is meant to fill the grain. The waterlox finish being dry can stay there but I would start with a good clean-up with mineral spirits.
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