Vent: I was sanding everything to 220 grit for years before a finish would go on

It just hit me last month while working on a maple vanity for a client in Tacoma. The finish kept looking cloudy and I couldn't figure it out. I was using a water-based topcoat and sanding the bare wood to a super fine 220, like I always did. The guy at my local supplier finally asked me what grit I was stopping at, and when I told him, he just shook his head. He said that finish needs a bit more tooth to grab onto, and going that fine was basically polishing the wood closed. I switched to stopping at 150 grit on the next piece, and the difference was night and day. The finish went on clear and stuck right. How many other little habits are we all doing just because that's how we were taught, you know? Has anyone else had a finish issue that came down to something simple like sanding grit?

3 comments

3 Comments

juliarodriguez9d agoMost Upvoted

Ever wonder if the wood species changes what grit you should use?

diana_carr669d ago

My last project looked like a bear sanded it, so maybe it does matter.

king.val9d agoTop Commenter

Actually, @juliarodriguez has a good point about wood species mattering. The real key is the finish, not the wood, because different finishes need different surfaces to bond. That supplier gave you the perfect fix for that specific topcoat.