Heard a guy at the lumber yard say he never sands past 120 grit for framing lumber

I was picking up some 2x4s in Springfield last Tuesday and this older carpenter was telling his apprentice that 120 grit is the sweet spot for anything that's getting painted or hidden. He said going finer just wastes time and clogs the paper faster. I've always gone to 150 out of habit, but his point about time and cost stuck with me. It got me wondering about other little time-saving tricks we all do without thinking. What's your go-to grit for rough lumber that's not a show piece?

3 comments

3 Comments

aaron85414d ago

He's got a point about saving time, but I always hit it with 150. The paint just lays down smoother for me, and it only takes an extra minute.

kim_ramirez314d ago

Yeah, the "paint lays down smoother" thing is so true. I tried rushing with just 220 once on some trim and it looked awful, like orange peel city. Now I never skip the 150 step on bare wood, especially with that cheaper brush I have. It just makes the final coat look way more professional without much extra work.

holly_garcia14d ago

My last project was a set of garage shelves, and I was so proud of how smooth I got the 2x4s with 220 grit. My buddy came over, took one look, and said it looked like I was preparing to French polish a picnic table. He had a point. Now I just knock off the splinters with 100 and call it a day.