Thread: How finely do you sand?

ROS and by hand.

Usually go to 400. 600 has been known though.

Usually do up to 600 by hand, or on large flat surfaces, 400 by ROS.

Originally Posted by AlexS

What's the finest grade of abrasive you use when sanding, before you apply any finish? do you sand by hand, ROS or some other means? Tell us what & why.

G'day mate!

I always sand to at least 800 grit, unless it's a "presenting" face, then I'll take it to at least 1200, and possible as high as 2500 if it's a "fine" piece.

As Neil says, the finish you get is only as good as the preparation under it.

So, up to 400 with an ROS, then by hand. Sheessh, I loathe sanding - use a scraper when ever possible - much better finish.

I'd like to be able to claim that I can get an entirely satisfactory finish with my hand planes. However, I use jarrah most of the time and jarrah is notorious for tricky and unpredictable grain. That means tear-out. Even with scrapers it's occasionally impossible to avoid.

If I'm working a large flat surface it's usually necessary to get the ROS out. I'm working on two pieces right now - a TV cabinet and a coffee table. I'll take them both up to 600 grit paper with the ROS and then apply Danish Oil and UBeaut wax.

Col

It depends on just what the piece is for, how happy I am with the quality and whether it's generally worth the effort. I don't try to polish a sow's ear. [shrug]

How I sand tends to depend on the size of the piece. With large items I'll use a ROS, small pieces are usually by hand. Turned items are either by hand or a non-powered rotary disk. I'll use up to 1200 on small items with corian or mineral inlays; then it's worth the effort. 'Tis a rare event that I go that high, though. For my better items, I'll go up to 600 and hand rub the finish while burnishing with 0000 steel wool.

The lower end? 180-240 grit, liberally applied with a belt sander. I go through a lot of sanding belts.

Just bought a ROS, so that'll be doing all the early sanding. Far superior to my old orbital. Then I hand sand to 240-400, then stain or sealer, rubbing down this and the top coats of oil with 600+ wet and dry or steel wool. But of course, if it's for relatives - 240 (max), slap on a coat of whatever's around , and hey presto..... there ya go! Cheers

180 by hand. anything over is a waste of energy and sandpaper. and 600w/d inbetween coats of oil or laquer and i never use steel wool:eek: talk about a good way to stuff up a good finish

I must be an absolute heathen! I only sand to 280 with a ROS, spray on 2 -3 coats sanding sealer wet on wet. Then I sand back by hand with 320 and spray on a few more coats. That's all that Mirotone recommends and gives a good commercial standard of finish.

Mick

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

I must be an absolute heathen! I only sand to 280 with a ROS, spray on 2 -3 coats sanding sealer wet on wet. Then I sand back by hand with 320 and spray on a few more coats. That's all that Mirotone recommends and gives a good commercial standard of finish.

Mick

heathen hey i only go to 180 what dose that make me and the 600 is mainly for oil. 400 is what i prefer with laquer. i know a lot of cabinet shops that wont go over 120 and you cant tell the difference:confused:

Add me to the heathen list, we only sand to 180 too. Suits our rustic style of furniture, it would be odd to have a mirror finish on a chunk of slab that still has the sapwood! I discovered the joys of a ROS recently when we bought our metabo, I was just using the Makita belt sander (I hate our bosch...) and palm sanders...

Cheers
Dan

Like most of the others, I sand as much as the piece requires whether that might be 80 or up to 1000 but usually 320 to 600.

I go to 180 with the ROS then back to 150 by hand which eliminates all swirl. I find that the perfect start to a perfect finish.

320 wet and dry In between coats of laquer and 600 before the final coat.

800/1200 wet and dry for applying oil.

And i to wont touch steel wool under any surcumstances

I do most of my sanding by hand. I always start with 80, go through 120, 240, 400, 600 and hope my arms and hands last up to using 800. I may not always have all the grades in stock so will use whatever I have. I always try to aim for 800, then a coat of sanding sealer, more 800, then the finish. If I'm using organoil, then I'll finish sand up to 2000.

Until I get a good sander, powered or otherwise, or that plane refurbished, I'll be continuing to sand by hand.

cheers
RufflyRustic

I rarely go further than 240/280grit using a pnuematic sander, and possibly finish with 400 by hand, which suits my oil and wax apparoach. For a recent job on some trophies I went all out, progressively to 1000 wet & dry, but I find it frustrating and too expensive to buy the sheets, as they fill up so quickly. Too stingey really .
Turned items I go to 600 then 000? steel wool, usually finishing with a riggers glove full of shavings off the floor!
I really should look more into scrapers, having just bought a new Bahco one, but lack a proper burnisher.

Cheers,