That fine-grit sandpaper everyone raves about... I was wrong about it

For like 5 years I swore by 220 grit as my top end on furniture. Thought anything higher was just wasting time and fighting the finish. Then I did a walnut desk for a client in Portland about 3 months ago. Sanded up to 400 by accident because I grabbed the wrong pad out of my drawer. The Danish oil went on like butter and popped the grain in a way I'd never seen. Now I go to 320 or 400 on anything I'm doing an oil finish on. Still use 220 for paint grade though. Anyone else stick with one grit for too long before trying something finer?

2 comments

2 Comments

williamt4429d ago

Yeah I had the exact same wake up call on a cherry table last winter, 320 makes a huge difference with oil finishes.

blair_gibson7829d ago

Man 400 on walnut with Danish oil? That must have looked incredible. I did the same thing on a cherry TV stand about a month ago, went to 320 on accident and the grain just popped like crazy. It's wild how we get stuck in these ruts with the same methods for years. Makes you wonder what else we're all missing out on.