Sanding Wood Tips for Beginners

Sanding is a crucial step for woodworking, even though it can sometimes feel tedious. It would be nice to have some quick and effective tips. There is! You will learn a beginner-friendly technique if you keep reading this article.

Sanding Steps

Grinding a smooth surface: It's essential to blend machine and hand techniques, sanding from low to high grit in sequence. You can achieve good results with no wasted time.

1. Start sanding with a power tool and then remove machine abrasions. Use a 5- to 6-inch disc sander, starting at 150 grit and finishing at 180 grit. One sanding tip here is not to press with too much force or move too quickly, as excessive pressure or speed can create tiny rotational scratches that may affect your sanding results. A light touch and patience are key to avoiding these swirls. Let your hand rest gently on the sander without pressing too hard; the weight of your arm will provide enough pressure. Sanding should be done at a snail's pace, no more than 1 inch per second. When using the sander, wearing padded work gloves is recommended to reduce the vibration of the machine's operation. Also, don't forget to wear a dust mask and hearing protection. BASE CAMP woodworking masks are a good choice for a comfortable and affordable option on the market.

2. Hand sanding to finish: After sanding with the machine to 180 grit, replace the sandpaper with 220 grit. To avoid uneven finger pressure, wrap the sandpaper around a cork sanding block and continue sanding by hand. Sand at an inclination of 7° to 10° in the direction of the wood grain to better remove wood fibers without leaving noticeable horizontal scuff marks on the wood surface.

How can you know when to stop sanding?

Use a side light source to view high and low spots on the panel. Shine a low-angle light source along one side of the panel to the other to see if the surface is flat.

Dampen the surface of the wood. Apply mineral spirits, rosin, or water evenly to the panel's surface to see if there are any sanding marks or flat planing marks left on the panel.