Thread: Filling in grain/finishing Wenge

I have a nice looking piece of Wenge I plan on using to make some scales.
The wood has some very deep grain/pores.
What is the best way to fill these pores in?
Also what would be a good finish for Wenge?

Sanding Sealer...

Start with what is sometimes called a wash coat, which is basically a 50/50 mix of Mineral Spirits and the sealer, for woods like Wenge I do that twice to make sure it goes deep... I use a 1 inch foam brush to apply this and I soak the woods that have deep grains... After that dries I do 2 coats of the Sealer itself, then what ever finish I am going to use...

You can do basically the same thing with oil finish too


Keep in mind that you will have grain still, it will not be a perfect smooth finish unless you are going to use CA or Epoxy and even then it might not be perfect, Wenge, Palm, and some Spalted will have deep grain that still might show...
If you want a perfect smooth glass like coat, then forget everything I just said, and look at the epoxy finishes...
It depends on the final outcome you are after?????

Thanks Glen, I have some bullseye sealcoat sanding sealer. I will give that a try with a CA finish over the top. I'm hoping this will give me what I want, but I have some finishing epoxy too if the CA doesn't give me what I want.

That sealer works pretty good but you will probably need several coats and will end up sanding it to bare wood every time. Another trick I use on woods like oak. Get it ready for finish, give it a liberal coat of danish oil. Then sand it wet. That will make a slurry out of the wood mixed with the resin oil. It will fill the pours/grain with the slurry for a perfect match to the wood. Let it dry a couple of days then put your finish over it.

Will tung or linseed oil work in lieu of the Danish oil?

Should. Any resin oil should do. It will take longer to dry, a couple days will probably be good, then a very light pass with some 800 or higher grit paper to smooth it and lay on your finish of choice. Or just pour it in epoxy resin and not worry about any of it.

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

That sealer works pretty good but you will probably need several coats and will end up sanding it to bare wood every time. Another trick I use on woods like oak. Get it ready for finish, give it a liberal coat of danish oil. Then sand it wet. That will make a slurry out of the wood mixed with the resin oil. It will fill the pours/grain with the slurry for a perfect match to the wood. Let it dry a couple of days then put your finish over it.

That's what I would have recommended, had cannonfodder not beaten me to it

I like finishing wenge in epoxy. The first coat I thin out with alcohol and wipe it on as a sealer. Second is applied with a rubber sheeting that I have, to rub the epoxy into the pores than the third is immediately applied. I like to mount whatever I am finishing in a rotisserie motor so the finish won't drip.