tips on sanding wood furniture
Because coarse sanding could blur the lines of the carving, use only fine-grit sandpaper, grades 5/0 and 6/0, to smooth the stripped wood; work without a sanding block. sand lightly along the grain of the wood, pressing the paper into cutout areas with your fingertips.. Medium and fine grades of sandpaper are generally used in refinishing furniture and antiques. coarse grits (those under #100) damage a fine wood finish. medium grits, such as #120 and #150, are useful for removing old finish or scratches. fine grits, such as #220, are frequently used for a final light sanding just before applying stain to the wood.. Sanding is also needed in order to ensure that a wood stain soaks in to the wood surface properly. after you strip old stain or paint off of wood furniture, the grain in the wood closes up, making it impossible for new finishes to soak in. by sanding your wood furniture, you will help to re-open the wood grain, making it easier for new finishes. tips on sanding wood furniture
When sanding hardwoods, the goal is usually the smoothest surface possible, but this is not the case when sanding an exterior deck surface. for sanding deck floorboards, use sandpapers with grits no rougher than 60 or 80. sanding with finer-grit papers (100-grit or above) will smooth the wood to the point where the pores begin to close down, which will hinder the absorption of stain or sealer. Sand the surface of the furniture. if you have a large piece of furniture, save yourself time and effort by using an orbital sander. edges, grooves, and any other nooks and crannies can be finished off with a small sanding block, or just sanded by hand. sanding will remove any existing varnish or lacquer, making it easier for the primer coat to adhere..