Appreciation post for the old timer who pointed out I was sanding with the grain all wrong for 10 years

Was finishing a walnut desk for a client last Tuesday and this retired cabinet maker walked by my shop, watched me for 20 seconds, then asked why I was going against the grain on the final pass, and I felt like such a fool for never noticing the scratches I was leaving behind.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jake6d ago

Wait, let me get this straight - you spent a full decade sanding backwards and nobody said a word until some random guy walks by your shop? That's either the politest town on earth or everyone just assumed you were going for that "rustic scratch pattern" look on purpose. I've made the same mistake with tearout on figured maple, felt like I'd personally offended every tree I'd ever worked with when I finally figured it out. Bet your client's desk is about to look way better than the last ten projects though.

brookethomas6d ago

Bet your client's desk is about to look way better" - is it though? I mean, if he spent 10 years doing it wrong and nobody noticed enough to say anything, maybe the difference isn't that huge. I've seen people go crazy over grain direction and honestly half the time you can't even tell once the finish goes on. Some of my favorite pieces have weird scratch patterns from me being careless and they still look fine after a coat of poly. Unless this guy was sanding sideways or something, I doubt the desk was gonna self destruct over some minor grain scratches.