Tim Puro writes:

Groop,

As usual, I am coming to the Well of Knowledge for help.

A client of mine brought me an import mahogany armoire (the

guy who sold it to her told her it was "English") and asked me to

refinish the piece and "get the yellow out of the grain".  I include

a close up of one of the marquestry panels from the front of the

piece.

I figure the yellow/white in the pores is the plaster of paris, silex 

or pumice that was used as a filler that is no longer wetted out by

the oil used in the filling process. Or it was put on with the

intention of making the pores white to make it look "old". 

Anyways, my client wants the white stuff gone.

I stripped the piece a few days ago and it had modern urethane

or catalyzed finish that was tough to get off. The filler still remains

in the grain in places. I wiped down the stripped piece with

alcohol and the filler in the grain wetted out and "disappeared". 

The client does not want the piece stained a dark color, just a

pore filled finish with possibly a glaze to add age and color.  Do

you think I can shoot the stripped wood with shellac or lacquer

to "wet out" the grain filler and then apply my other layers of

finish without the old filler showing through again at some point? 

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Tim Puro
Bloomington, IN