Many good instrument woods have large pores which need to be filled if you want a perfectly smooth instrument. Rosewoods have pours, and Cocobolo is a rosewood so I will begin the finishing of the tenor, #98 by filling the pores.
Here are the necessary tools to do the job on the Mahogany neck. A shaker containing mahogany sawdust, Some 1 pound cut shellac and a cotton ball. I have shaken a little sawdust over the neck. Now I will put some shellac on the cotton ball and with a circular motion start grinding the sawdust into the pores.
Robbie O'Brien posts a good description of this method on the LMI website. I reccomend you watch it. The pores are beginning to fill already.
Now lets started on the Cocobolo back. See how red that sawdust is. Cocobolo is strange stuff, but make beautiful sounding instruments. Sprinkle on little sawdust, A bit of shellac on the cotton ball and start rubbing.
Before you know it, the pores begin to fill, sand lightly with 32o grit and do it over again a couple of times. Voila, the pores are filled. The French Polish can begin.
Last item of business, "Journey" gets its fretboard.