Entertainment center carcass is done

[Modat22]

This silly thing has fought me every step of the way, its just too dang big a project for my half full 12' x 16' shop... I have to move this part inside the house so I can start building the drawers and doors.

I've been trying to get a smooth finish but the pores in the wood won't fill. I tried using a pore filler made by minwax with the results you see here. Anyone have a suggestion for filling pores in my next project?

[submarinesailor]

When you used the Minwax filler, did you apply it with the grain and than remove it with a burlap rag rubbing across the grain?  That's the way I was taught to do floors.

Bruce/subsailor

[Modat22]

Honestly no, I applied it and then removed it with a cotton diaper with the grain. I think I understand why that didn't work well.

[thedeeredude]

You have to squeegie the excess off against the grain so that it pushes it into the pores.   Try on a scrap piece of wood first and see what results you get.  It's looking good so far!

[UNCLEBUCK]

 I would guess sanding sealer applications with a fine grit sanding between coats . That looks like mighty fine work Modat  ;D  .  My entertainment center has stuff stacked all over the tv , never had a entertainment center but I bet its nice !

[Modat22]

Thanks for the compliments, I sanded it back down last night with 180, 220 and 320 sandpaper and recoated it. Thats all I'm going to do to this carcass, I'm a perfectionest but I don't have all the necessary skills or tools to be a proper perfectionist. If I'm not careful I'll ruin the piece trying to get it just right.

[Larry]

Looking good Modat22.

Jeff Jewitt wrote an finishing article for Fine WoodWorking maybe bout a year ago.  He described using plaster of paris for a grain filler.  I tried it with good results.  He has a web site...think it is Homesteadfinishing.com.  Pretty much a guru on the art of finishing.  Nice to talk to and has several other methods of grain filling...none of which have I tried.

Suggestion to save space...I normally build face frames first, followed by doors and drawers.  Finish em all and than start on the boxes.