Wood Sanding Techniques

Hand sanding is the most common sanding technique.

Wood sanding techniques vary, depending the final finish. For glass-like finishes, fine-grit sandpaper is used by hand. For production finishes, orbital sanders are used to remove and blend wood down faster. For moldings and fine-furniture detail, small objects are used to reach into profiles and woodworking detail.

Final Finish Sanding

Before the wood is stained or sprayed with lacquer, sand over the surface by hand lightly with 180-grit sandpaper on a hand block. Use short strokes in the same direction as the grain. Push forward on the block and then pull back overlapping your first stroke. Gradually inch forward in a straight line forward and back. Work your way over the surface of the wood until you produce a fine, white powder consistently. If your sandpaper builds a residue on its surface, change it. This type of sanding produces a glass-like finish on any wood.

Production Sanding

For cabinet shops or anytime you need to remove wood fast, use an electric orbital sander followed by a hand block with 100-grit sandpaper. Install 100-grit on the orbital pad. Using small circular movements, let the orbital drift over the surface of the wood. Don't put any downward force on the sander, just let the weight of the sander do the work. When the wood is blended and looks consistent remove the orbital sander. Brush off the sawdust and look at the surface of the wood. If you see small, light semi-circle scratches on the wood. Put a piece of 100-grit sandpaper on a hand block and sand over the wood by hand, with the grain using forward and back strokes, overlapping them slightly.

Detail Sanding

For sanding inside the profiles of molding or cracks and crevasses of fine furniture, use small objects. Wrap sticky sandpaper around wooden dowels and use them to sand inside the curves of molding. Use different sizes of dowels up to 1 inch in diameter or down to 3/8 inch for very small profile lines. Hold the dowel by the end, and use the other end to scrub down inside places where you can't reach with your fingers. Wrap sticky sandpaper around sharp wooden wedges. Use the edge to fit inside tight corners or inside fine detail.

Hand Sanding

Palm a piece of sandpaper and curve your hand around chair or table legs. Spin the sandpaper around in a circle back and forth to remove and blend the wood. Use 100-grit at first and then go back over the legs with 180 to get them ready for final finishing. For very fine cracks and edges, fold the sandpaper in thirds. Use the sharp edge of the sandpaper like a knife to work down inside detail lines, surgically using the tip of the folded edge to remove debris from cracks.