Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Say you want to keep sanding
Alan Tolchinsky
>down to a minimun. What process do you use to get the surface in a "finish ready" condition? I just got done with some maple table legs and here's what I did. First I planed with a Bailey #4, then used a scraper followed by 220 grit paper. Does this sequence make sense? What's your routine? As I said I'm just trying to reduce sanding a get a better surface before finishing. Thanks Alan
Re: Say you want to keep sanding
Alan Hamilton
>Alan (I'm always happy to see an Alan who spells his name correctly)
I follow the exact same routine--except I stop after the smoothing plane part. I find the surface left by a smoothing plane to be much superior to that left by any other tool: the clarity and depth are truly amazing--and gorgeous.
The only time I use a scraper is when I have an area that doesn't plane well. I'm in the minority on this, but I think the surface left by a scraper isn't quite as good as that left by a plane.
I touch sandpaper only when I have some spots that I can't do with a plane or a scraper--and to scuff sand between coats, of course.
Alan (who also spells his name correctly)
Re: Say you want to keep sanding
Jim in Burlington Ontario
>On something like legs I plane and then touch the iron up and take that last super thin pass. Maple is not that friendly to hand tools IMO. I really like the LV scraping plane for tougher figured woods. Sanding does take place on larger table tops maybe if my BP goes down I would try and completely plane a table top smooth.
How can you get a surface uniform
Alan Tolchinsky
>with just planing? I think I would have "lap" marks with my old Stanley #4.
Not if you...
Steve Kubien
>slightly round the corners of the iron and have the lateral adjuster adjusted correctly (say that 10 times fast!). If you do both of these things, you can achieve a shimmering look on maple that is REALLY tough to beat.
My 2cents,
Steve Kubien
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Re: Not if you...
bob marino
>What about with qswo and a Watco/poly finsih?
Bob
Re: Say you want to keep sanding
Alan Tolchinsky
>Thanks all for the suggestions. I'm sticking to hand planing until I get it right. It does leave a beautiful surface.
Re: Not if you...
Alan Hamilton
>Alan,
Steve is right. You can also sharpen the iron with a small crown; i.e., a very slight convex curve on the edge. That's what I do. I love the very subtle undulations it leaves. You (or at least I) cannot see them, but you can feel them as you move your hand over the surface. Many people like such a surface more than one that's perfectly flat. Machines make things perfectly flat.
Alan