How to Refinish a Mahogany Grain Filler Application

Refinishing mahogany is a little bit different than refinishing other wood furniture because it requires the use of a grain filler. This substance fills in naturally-occurring gaps in the mahogany grain that prevent stain from being spread and absorbed evenly. This does not make refinishing mahogany furniture any more difficult than restaining other furniture -- it simply adds an extra step. Once you have applied the grain filler and allowed it to dry, the refinishing process is similar to that of any other refinishing project.

Putty knife
220-grit sandpaper
Furniture stain
Brush
Roller
Sprayer
Cloth
Protective topcoat
Foam applicator brush

Instructions

- 1
  Scrape the surface of the mahogany with a plastic putty knife to remove any excess grain filler after you have allowed it to dry for about 1 hour. Once the surface is relatively flush, sand the mahogany with 220-grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth.
- 2
  Apply the stain to the mahogany furniture with a brush, roller, sprayer or rag -- always apply with the grain. Allow the stain to sit for about 5 minutes, then wipe away the excess with a clean, dry cloth.
- 3
  Apply additional coats of stain as desired. Let the wood dry completely between each coat of stain.
- 4
  Apply a protective topcoat to seal the mahogany and grain filler. Shellac, varnish, lacquer and polyurethane are all common options for this process. Most can be painted on with a foam applicator brush. However, if you use polyurethane, you need to sand with 400-grit sandpaper after the first coat dries, then apply a second coat.

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