In my previous post I went over the reasons why I would or
wouldn’t sand a piece before refinishing it. In this post I’m going to go over
how exactly to go about sanding.
Three things that will make your life easier while sanding:
#1 An electric hand held sander.
#2 Know your grit, Sherlock.
#3 Always sand in the direction of the grain. (the direction
that the lines in the wood are going)
An electric hand held sander is going to cut your time by at
least 75%. I have an old Black & Decker “Mouse” sander and I love it. I
want a new sander, but just because I love tools. This one works great.
Sandpaper is made especially to fit it and is easily put on and off. I like
this because I can switch in between sandpapers when I’m working on something.
Yes, it is possible to sand using a sanding block, but it is going to take you a lot of time.
Know your grit. Grit refers to the roughness of the sandpaper. The lower the
number, the rougher the grit. You always, ALWAYS start with a lower number and
work your way up to the higher number. For example, when I am refinishing a
table top I will start with 60 grit. The 60 grit will grind down through any
varnish and stain to the bare wood. If you use 60 grit too long, it will
eventually start to grind away at your wood. 60 grit will leave your surface
rough. There will be visible sanding marks and your piece will not be ready to
paint or stain.
After removing the paint, varnish, or stain you were aiming
to remove, next you will be ready to start creating a smooth surface ready for
your finish. I like to move from 60 grit to 120 to 220. Going in this order
will leave you with a quality surface that looks professional and neat. Be sure
to check the surfaces that you’re sanding from different angles. If you are
able to see sanding marks, you will need to re-sand that area to get rid of
them, which is why I like the mouse. If I am working with the 220 grit
sandpaper and I see marks left from the 60 grit, I can take the 220 off and put
some 120 back on, remove the 60 grit marks, and then move back to the 220.
Finally, always sand with the grain of the wood. “Grain of
the wood” refers to the direction that the lines in the wood are going. Don’t
argue; just do it.
If you’ve sanded properly, when you apply your stain you
will be rewarded with a thing of beauty. If you apply your stain and you
suddenly see marks from sanding, wait for the stain to dry and begin again.
Sanding is one of those things that when you do it right, it
is completely rewarding. You can literally see your hard work pay off. I’ll go over how to stain furniture sometime in the future.
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| This is my 12 year old sanding a bookshelf for his room. Don't be afraid to get started. You can do this. |
Next up will be: Sanding when you’re…done?
XOXO,
Abby
Labels: antique, DIY, dresser, old, paint color, recover, vintage, wood
