To Sand or not to sand?

11/24/00, 7:16 PM #1

Stephen Shepherd
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Registered: 11/19/00
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To Sand or not to sand?

That is the question, when is it appropriate to sand and when is the chisel or gouge the best finish tool?

Stephen

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Full Chisel Hi, I�m Stephen Shepherd, I have been doing woodwork for a living for over 40 years but my interest began at an early date. In first grade (1954) I won an art contest and first prize was a �Handy Andy� toolbox, I wonder what that would be worth today. While studying Philosophy at the University of Utah I got a job as an apprentice Cabinetmaker at a large cabinet shop in Salt Lake, all European craftsmen from Germany and England. A friend owned an antique shop and I started repairing furniture and collecting old tools. I also attended a vocational school in an apprenticeship cabinetmaking program, which they no longer offer. When I became a journeyman I started working for museums in the West and Midwest and opened my own shop in 1979 doing antique restoration and traditional woodwork. I have written several articles and books on woodworking and hope to have my first book Shepherds� Compleat Early Nineteenth Century Woodworker originally published in 1981, published in paperback in 2004. Hide Glue - Historical & Practical Applications was published in 2009, as was the reprint of the 1824 Universal Receipt Book. In 2011 I published Shellac, Linseed Oil, & Paint-Traditional 19th Century Woodwork Finishes. I found WoodCentral in 1999; I wish this had been around when I started. I enjoy the discussions and the chats and am fortunate enough to be able to host the Tuesday Night Hand Tool Chat. I have yet to meet personally anyone I have met on line, with the exception of Barb, Dan, Mike, Bruce and John P. but many of the people on WoodCentral I consider friends. Stephen Shepherd

Re: To Sand or not to sand?

11/25/00, 5:50 AM #2

Ace Foster
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Registered: 11/21/00

Re: To Sand or not to sand?

Every case is different. If a fortuitous - and fortunate! - combination of your skill, your tools, your wood and your design give you an acceptable surface without sanding, don't sand. Otherwise, sand as necessary. Try for a good finish right off the tool, but don't be obssessive about it.

I don't think it overstates the case a bit to claim that nobody can get away without sanding all the time. Some of us even think it's not really worth the trouble it takes to avoid sanding. I've seen some pretty good turners do some pretty brutal sanding in the course of generating some real pretty work, too.

To Sand or not to sand?

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