Power Tools

Woodworking Finish Wood Sanding Basic Techniques

Our basic techniques lesson shows you how to sand wood with success:

1. Go with the Grain

This is one of the easiest rules to remember when sanding. Going against the grain can create visible scratch marks. Pay close attention to a project that has four joined sides. Where the end of one piece meets the edge of another piece, you’ll want to sand right up to the joint without crossing it. Sand the edge last, being careful to sand with the grain.

2. Progress from Coarse- to Fine-Grit Sandpaper

Begin by sanding with the grain with 100-grit sandpaper to remove the deepest scratches from the
wood. Then sand with 150-grit sandpaper for a smooth, uniform surface that will evenly absorb the
paint. For base-coated surfaces, we recommend sanding with paper cut from a plain paper grocery sack before continuing to paint details or applying varnish.This is by far the finest-grit sandpaper around, and it will remove any fuzz raised by acrylic paint without leaving scratches. Be sure to use the plain side of the sack; the ink on the printed side could rub off onto the project surface. You may crumple the bag before using it to make the paper more pliable. If you do, crumple it and then flatten the piece so there are no hard folds or edges.

3. Search for Scratches

Once you complete all sanding, remove the dust with a light sweep of a tack cloth. (Do not rub the
surface with the cloth; you’ll leave a sticky residue.) Then hold a light at an angle over the piece (or place the piece near a window) to inspect it for scratches. Sand again as before until the surface is smooth and scratch-free.

4. Make It Stick

All adhesives bond best to clean, dry, bare wood. Sand painted or varnished parts to expose bare wood in the gluing areas. Then remove dust from the surface, but don’t rub the surface with a tack cloth — the wax residue will prevent an effective bond.Visit the Woodworking Plans Website pages for more woodworking skills info..

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im sanding down a 91 thunderbird sc and id like to know the heaviest grit sandpaper i can use.?

The hood is very rusty with some older primer and scars still on the metal any answer would help. and keep in mind im doing this by hand, no wet sanding or power sanding

80 grit would be the heaviest you would need for sanding down heavy rust. when sanding a car, i would go with 120-180p sand paper. when feather or smoothing out bondo use 220p grit paper. After sanding the rust down buy some finnishing putty this is used for hiding sand lines (lines seen in the metal of the body after using heavy grit paper for sanding.) Wet sanding is best for sanding to primer. You can wet sand with hands only. Go to your local parts store or walmart and buy some wet/dry sand paper. wet the vehicle and paper and sand like you normally do. After sanding a while rinse off the paper and car to wash away sanded paint. Wet sanding is best to eliminate dust. You can’t however sand bondo(body putty) or finnishing putty. Best of luck

I would not use 36. 80 grit is plenty enough to sand off heavy enough for rust. and 120 is a good grit for feathering but 180 would probably do better. The thicker the grit the more sanding it does however please becareful when feathering with thicker grit. Heavy grit for sanding can make you have to re-bondo, if sanded too much. That’s why i recomend thinner grit sand paper when feathering… takes a little more time, but if you want it come out near perfect then it will take time.