Wood filler or sand only

[Abyone]

About to paint some external timber door and window frames. One is showing lot of surface cracks as can be seen in photos.

Would sanding alone be sufficient for this or should I use some wood filler (e.g toupret or similar ) first and then sand.
The cracks are all over so if I use a filler I'd basically be coving the whole door frame.

 

[Wayners]

Unfortunately you have you fill over.
Toupret ready-mixed suitable for exterior

 

[Scally-Ho]

Do you know what timber the frames are made from and what that original finish is on the frames? I ask because some woods are resinous and some finishes tend to grin/bleed through newly applied paints.

 

[Abyone]

Not sure but it's either iroko or mahogany and I'm leaning towards iroko as it's not that dark on the inside. The outside was probably stained sometime ago, original finish was probably an oil.
I am planning to : Fill, sand, prime and paint.
Was going to use Tikkurila Ultra Primer followed by Ultra Classic.

 

[Scally-Ho]

Ah, Tikkurila, yes a 1st class product because it's a stain blocker too and being water based will soak right into those fissures. It's a pity lead based paints are not available to private individuals because that almost denatured wood could benefit from lead-based primer, although I'm sure the Tikkurila will serve just as well