All,

I'd be grateful for some input. I've read around a bit and want to
clarify a few things.

I picked up a gorgeous oak & maple dresser with a hideous white paint
job. I've stripped it completely (some white paint remains in some
deep grain on the top) and have sanded it fairly heavily (it had a lot
of dings & stains, etc).

I'm a bit confused about the need for and the differences between
`grain filler,' 'sanding sealer,' etc. I'm also not sure in what order
to proceed.

Does one, after sanding, use a sealer, then a filler, then a stain? Is
the filler even necessary?

Also, as I mentioned above, there is some white paint that I can not
remove. I've tried steel wool, I've even tried toothpicks. Will a
grain filler hide that white paint? Should I just keep sanding? The
top (the only place with the white paint left over) is a thick solid
piece of oak, so I definitely have the material to keep sanding.

Thank you,
D. Hill.