Conditioner or putty first?

I recommend completing all surface preperation (sanding, filling, etcetera) before using the conditioner, TomTinkerSum. I think of it as the first coat of stain (albeit one with no color or tint) and, therefore, don’t apply until I’m ready to begin staining.

-- I dream of the world where a duck can cross the road and no one asks why

Get rid of that MW conditioner. Use Zinsser Seal Coat shellac. Quicker, better, more predictable.
I keep a can of MW crap around to remind me NEVER to use it again (kinda like a pic of my ex).
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

I have always done a first finish coat and then tinted the putty to match. Putty doesn’t always darken as much as the wood does, so sometimes the putty stands out like a sore thumb.

As with almost all finish questions, the best plan is to try your ideas on scrap and see what you get.

Yes, you want to be very careful sanding veneered plywood. The veneers are usually so thin that it’s easy to change the way they take a stain – even if you haven’t sanded through.

-- Adversity doesn't build character...................it reveals it.