Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Wet Sanding?
Wm Kram
>Have had mixed results when I have tried this with thinned varnish. Not sure what the best sanding material may be. Seems that paper & cloth either clog up rapidly or lose their granules. With SiC wet/dry there has been some black staining in the grain from loose particles.
Would like to hear what works for you & at what stage of working through the grades wet sanding is best used.
Re: Wet Sanding?
SamSimpson
>Hi Y'all,
Bill, there is no perfect answer to this. In general wet sanding with your finish is normally done after the surface is fully prepared by other methods.
The problems you are having would suggest the paper is too dry and that there is too much of an attempt to remove and smooth wood.
The general idea with wet sanding with the finish, is to burnish the slightly softened grain, use small fibers from the wood as grain filler and warm the finish so it can be manipulated deeper into the grain. Very little actual sanding is achieved. The finish should lubricate the sandpaper enough that your problems don't become an issue.
Different woods will respond differently to this method. With some very soft or pithy woods it is advisable to apply a sacrificial coat of finish first and allow it to dry. This will prevent tear out of soft woolly grain and promote a better shearing action when you wet sand the second coat.
Regards Sam Simpson.
Re: Wet Sanding?
Bill Kram
>I have been working the raw wood & perhaps sanding too much trying to make a slurry to fill the voids. Will try to do this after a sealer coat per your suggestion.
Thanks
Re: Wet Sanding?
Don Henthorn Smithville, Texas
>Here lately I have begun sanding with 150 or 220 and 50-50 varnish/thinner and find that the sanding goes much faster and the sandpaper seems to last forever. Then I move up the grits but not very far. I allow the surface to dry and then sand with 400 and 600 and apply the finish. I am getting better finishes than I used to.
