How to Sand Wood Furniture

The sanding stage of furniture finishing is the most critical. A bad or sloppy sanding job will ruin the finished piece. Don't panic; here are some tips to help you get the job done right. Just remember to take your time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Several grits of sand paper

The Right Sandpaper for the Job

1. Remember that sandpaper is rated by grit. A smaller grit number means the paper has fewer, but larger, bits of sand. The best sandpaper to finish sanding furniture with has a grit of 220 or more.

2. Start with a coarser paper and switch to a higher grit as imperfections are removed. For a smooth piece, finish with 300-or-higher-grit paper.

3. Sand until the surface feels uniformly smooth to the touch.

Power Sander or Not?

4. Inspect your piece carefully. If the piece is laminated, it would be better to hand sand. Power sanders take off wood too fast and can ruin your piece. If the wood is solid, you can probably use a power sander.

5. Use a finer grit paper (220 or more) when using a power sander to avoid removing too much wood.

6. Final sanding step should be done by hand. This will help you feel any imperfections and make corrections.

Tips & Warnings

• Always sand with the grain of the wood.
• Don't use a power sander on laminated wood.
• Do not use a circular type sander as they leave visible scratches.