Tame the Grain with Goodfilla's Wood Filler

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Gork's GoodFilla water-based wood filler can be used as a grain filler, primer, knot filler, and much more! Use GoodFilla to smooth out deep groves in hardwood floors, window sills, scratched doors, tables, furniture, and on any wood surface that needs attention. Easy to work and high-quality results every time.

Close-up of a glossy white guitar body made from poplar with a grainless finish from grain filler

Not every woodworker is looking for a completely grainless finish as shown on the poplar (yes, poplar!) guitar above, but it's sure nice to know it's possible! That's one extreme of wood filler, but why else would you need it?

Close-up of finished oak with visible open grain pores, labeled

Wood, (and some woods especially, such as oak and walnut) will have a natural look of open grain. Areas where part of the grain pattern recesses below the overall surface of the board. In some furniture styles that look is prized (Arts & Crafts), in others (Chippendale) quite the opposite. So we've learned to tame the grain.

Oak surface with pores leveled by grain filler, labeled

Gork's Goodfilla Wood filler can be used to build those low areas up to the surface of the wood, without obscuring the grain pattern. The "level" of levelling is up to you and can be adjusted during the application of the wood filler. 

Oak board in raking light comparing an open-pore finish on the left with a smooth filled surface on the right

Shown in a raking light, you can see the open pore finish on the left, while the filled surface on the right shows a more even and uniform surface. 

Three oak boards showing Goodfilla grain filler options: Pickling, Blue Filler on Red Oak, and Red Oak on Red Oak

As you can see above, Goodfilla's filler is offered in a variety of tinted options, and can even be tinted by the user. The pickling on the left and Red Oak on the right are both "from the can" options, while the center blue tint was color added to a base filler. 

Goodfilla water-based clear grain filler applied across an oak board, with the can beside it

Easy application. The filler can be applied with a putty knife or finishing pad. Apply with, and against the grain to get the best penetration.

Sanding dried grain filler flush on an oak board with a random orbit sander

When dry, the filler is sanded flush to the surface.

Red oak board after grain filling, with a can of General Finishes water-based High Performance gloss topcoat

A top coat finishes the process. Multiple applications may be required to build to a full guitar-worthy finish.

Red oak board with blue-tinted grain filler on the left versus unfilled grain on the right for a dramatic effect

As you've seen above, application is not complicated at all. And you'll see the addition of blue dye to the filler to add a dramatic effect to the wood grain. 

Mixing blue dye into Goodfilla grain filler in a bowl with a putty knife

Because Gork’s Goodfilla is a water-based product, WHEN (and we all know it will happen) the filler dries out, you can add water and reconstitute the filler so it can be used again. That's saving a few pennies!

Applying a water-based gloss topcoat to a grain-filled red oak board, with Goodfilla filler tubs inset

I should also mention that while Goodfilla's is water based, it is fully compatible under solvent-based finishes and not just for waterborn finishes. So next time you need to level the playing field, think Goodfilla's!

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