How finely do you sand?

[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.

[craigb]

ROS and by hand.

Usually go to 400. 600 has been known though.

[AlexS]

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

[Auld Bassoon]

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.

[Driver]

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

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

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.

[reo]

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

[redwood]

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

[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

[redwood]

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:

[dan_tom]

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

[Wood Borer]

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.

[Lignum]

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

[RufflyRustic]

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

[Andy Mac]

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,