The hidden great thing about wooden grain emerges with efficient sanding, displaying colours, patterns, and a pure vibe that excites the senses.
Now that you’ve got all of that thrilling grain uncovered, what must you do with that well-sanded wooden?
That’s exactly why we’re right here immediately. Be a part of me as we uncover what’s potential to do with sanded wooden. We’ll focus on portray, clear coating, varnishing, and extra.
And like at all times, I’ll throw in some skilled suggestions that can enable you to obtain professional-grade outcomes in your wooden ending tasks.
Plus, I’ll ask a few of my tradesmen buddies for his or her finest recommendation on these subjects. They at all times have one thing to say!
So, are you prepared? OK then, Learn On!
Why Sand Wooden Anyway?
Sanding can take a while and make a multitude, nevertheless it’s at all times price it! Correct sanding can flip a so-so mission into an distinctive one – and that’s what I like: Distinctive High quality.
There are numerous good causes for sanding wooden, even when it appears pretty {smooth} already, like whenever you purchase a board or sheet of plywood on the native lumber retailer.
As an example, sanding wooden lets you:
- Eliminate splinters and tough areas that encourage the event of splinters. This is essential, particularly should you’re making furnishings or picket crafts that you may be promoting to the general public or giving as items. You don’t need anyone getting splintered up – OUCH!
- Easy the floor of the wooden to convey out its pure magnificence. Wooden is a pure substance, and never usually tremendous {smooth} with out excessive and low spots. Sanding makes your entire piece extra degree, dipless, and flat, like a chunk of glass. As you sand the piece {smooth}, you’ll uncover hidden grain patterns that make an effort so satisfying.
- Take away unattractive options within the wooden attributable to the milling course of. Lumber mills lower boards and manufacture sheets of wooden, and nearly all of the merchandise usually are not offered with super-smooth surfaces. Now, in fact, there are quite a few completed merchandise out there, however have enjoyable paying for them. Sanding lets you take away milling marks and expose the splendor beneath.
Sanding wooden additionally helps to arrange picket surfaces for portray or staining. Wooden with tough areas won’t settle for paint, and particularly not stain, in addition to correctly sanded wooden. The tough spots will soak in additional stain, yielding an uneven, unprofessional look.
And that IS NOT the aim! Taking the time wanted to make sure wonderful sanding is an crucial facet of each woodworking mission.
PRO TIP 1: It’s virtually at all times a wonderful thought to sand wooden, whatever the meant use for the wooden. Even when it’s an outdated 2 x 8 poplar stud that you just’re simply going to make a shelf from in your storage! A fast sanding could make a giant distinction to security, look, sturdiness, and future enjoyment.
Primary Steps for Sanding Wooden
Consider sanding wooden like an train in mindfulness. By its nature, it’s a gradual, cautious course of. There’s no cause to hurry right here. Oooooooohm.
You’ll need to make a primary move with an 80 or 100 grit abrasive typically. You should use a random orbital sander, sheet sander, sanding sponge, or perhaps a picket block with a chunk of sandpaper wrapped round it – performed it 100 occasions!
So, the method entails gently stepping up the grit quantity in your sandpaper with every move. As an example, typically, it’s high quality to go along with a sequence like:
- 80 grit
- 120 grit
- 150 grit
- 180 grit
- 220 grit
That usually will get you to an excellent {smooth} and beautiful end. It’s necessary to not simply skip from, say, 80 grit straight as much as a 220 grit. That might nonetheless be higher than not sanding in any respect, nevertheless it’s not going to yield the perfect outcomes.
Keep in mind, correct sanding is a considerate artwork. Skipping steps = Dangerous.
PRO TIP 2: At all times sand wooden within the path the grain runs. Sanding towards or throughout the grain isn’t usually advisable because it tends to create small scratches that will not appear so horrible initially, however will come again to hang-out you. Take your time with every step and make sure that you’re creating the very best quality of consequence potential.
So, listed below are the fundamental steps to take whereas sanding wooden to make sure a high-quality end that you could brag about and exhibit!
- Arrange your workspace in a effectively ventilated space. I at all times sand OUTDOORS every time potential. Sawdust and sanding mud get all over the place, even when you will have a vacuum connected on to your sander. Unfailingly, it’s a multitude. However, indoors or out, be certain there’s loads of air flow.
- Security First! It issues. I’ve dozens of outdated mates who I used to work within the trades with, and, sadly, a lot of them are experiencing poor well being, in lots of circumstances, on account of failing respiratory perform. We didn’t used to grasp concerning the risks, and even the presence of, issues like, say, asbestos. Anyway, please shield your well being with correct respiratory gear.
- Take a couple of minutes to place all your sanders, sandpaper of various grits, clamps, and the rest you have to through the mission. This not solely saves you time and hassles, but additionally improves security by limiting your motion all through the mission at hand.
- Make your first move with the roughest sandpaper you’re utilizing. Take your time and do a wonderful job. I imagine in performing due diligence on each job I undertake – from doing the dishes to driving a nail to creating a pleasant dinner for my spouse. Consideration to element issues, particularly in an endeavor like sanding.
- Now, wipe down your workpiece with a lint-free fabric, paying attention to any areas that want particular consideration. Subsequent, change your sandpaper to the subsequent smoother grit, say like 80 as much as 120. Then, repeat the identical strategy of sanding. Be thorough. Do excellent work!
By the point you attain a 220 grit end and wipe it down, your workpiece ought to be wanting mighty high quality! Whereas there’s no want, typically, to sand additional, sandpaper grit ranges clear up into the hundreds – like 6000 grit sandpaper!
There’s no want for this for our functions right here immediately although. 220 ought to be far sufficient up the abrasive scale to realize the superior end you’re after.
PRO TIP 3: Gentle. Sensible, dazzling mild! Use it earlier than beginning sanding. Get to know your workpiece with an intensive visible and tactile inspection.
Have a look at and really feel the wooden beneath the brilliant mild, so that you just perceive its traits, flaws, and attributes. This may enable you to obtain a lot better outcomes as you sand with every progressively smoother grit.
What to Do With Sanded Wooden?
OK – so now that your wooden is sanded to a {smooth}, stunning end, what the heck must you do with it?
Effectively, there are numerous choices, together with:
- Making use of a transparent coat end
- Making use of stain or varnish
- Making use of portray
- Nothing
Let’s overview them.
Making use of a Clear Coat End to Sanded Wooden
At all times learn the directions on the label of any product you utilize to coat sanded wooden with. Personally, I exploit a beveled lower brush to use clear coats, paints, sealers or the rest aside from stains (I exploit a rag for stains) – except the workpiece may be very massive, then I might use a sprayer or a curler.
On that word, there are numerous neat merchandise out there at any dwelling enchancment heart that make life simpler. For instance, they promote little 6-inch “hog-dog” rollers, that are foam and are available little curler trays.
They’re principally meant to be disposable and solely price a couple of dollars. I like to recommend them, particularly for individuals who don’t already personal brushes, rollers, or sprayers that could be wanted.
Totally clear your workpiece with a lint-free fabric after sanding and earlier than making use of a transparent coat or some other coating. Stir, don’t shake your clear coat product. Shaking makes bubbles.
Bubbles are unhealthy. Stir the container deeply, clear to the underside and blend the contents completely.
Work within the path of the grain. Apply a beneficiant however not heavy coat, and watch out about making use of it so thick that it causes effervescent. Attempt to keep away from creating bubbles and get simply the correct quantity.
Now, let the piece relaxation to dry fully. Apply a second coat after the primary is 100% dry.
PRO TIP 4: My woodworking mentor, Artwork “Smoky” Ross, taught me way back that it’s good to check a small, inconspicuous space in your workpiece to make sure that it’s prepared for sanding. Simply take a small piece of sandpaper and sand a spot on the underside of the piece.
When you discover the clear coat forming little balls and rolling up, discontinue and wait longer to sand. Personally, these days, I by no means rush something and permit loads of time for every coat to completely dry earlier than I even contact it.
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Making use of a Stain to Sanded Wooden
Some folks apply wooden stain with a brush, or perhaps a foam brush, however I exploit a superb ol’ rag. At all times do what your product’s directions say to, however, as for me, I apply a beneficiant coat with a clear, lint-free fabric.
If I’m staining a large-pored wooden, like oak or mahogany, I exploit just a little extra strain to make sure that the stain is pushed into these pores, which, in flip, creates a deeper, richer completed consequence. And I apply the stain towards the grain, not with it like when clear coating. This additionally helps to make sure deeper pore penetration.
Plus, I like to make use of a high quality pre-staining wooden conditioner. It is a luxurious step that I really feel is price it as a result of it actually enhances the tip consequence. And sure, my buddy David and I’ve performed side-by-side comparisons of staining the identical wooden with and with no pre-stain conditioner. (Lengthy story why, nevertheless it actually does assist!)
Apply a beneficiant coat, after which be conscious of how lengthy you permit it on earlier than wiping any extra stain off with a clear, lint-free fabric. The longer you permit it on earlier than wiping, the darker, richer, deeper, consequence you’ll obtain. And when wiping it off, go along with the wooden’s grain, the other way as you utilized it.
Let the primary coat completely dry. As I discussed above, I go away every part for at the very least a full day. I’m not in a rush when sanding and ending wooden.
That defeats the aim for me. So, I take my time with every step and attempt to overdo every part.
After the primary coat is completely dry, you possibly can decide if you wish to apply a second coat to complement the end additional. There are not any guidelines.
The one factor that issues is the way it seems and makes you’re feeling. Let the grain communicate to you, and it’ll.
PRO TIP 5: Do not forget that wooden stain doesn’t shield the wooden like a transparent coat or waterproofing product will. Wooden stain penetrates into wooden pores, nevertheless it does nothing to strengthen or shield the floor of the wooden. So, relying in your meant utility for the workpiece, chances are you’ll want to use these merchandise after staining.
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Making use of Paint to Sanded Wooden
IMO, making use of paint to sanded wooden is extra forgiving than making use of a transparent coat, or stain, or each. In fact, in lots of circumstances, it makes little or no sense to color over attractive wooden grains, and that’s why I usually don’t paint woodwork of any kind. I’m old-school in decor and actually just like the authenticity and pure vibe of sanded wooden.
Nevertheless, should you do need to paint wooden after it’s sanded, do it like this:
- Wipe the sanded workpiece down with a lintless fabric.
- Give the piece a ultimate inspection beneath vibrant mild to make sure its finish high quality.
- Whenever you’re certain it’s paint-ready, apply a high quality primer (I exploit water-based).
- Permit the primer coat to dry fully.
- Give the piece a lightweight sanding with 120 grit to tough up the floor (it makes the paint stick higher).
- Wipe the piece clear of all mud.
- Apply the primary coat of paint and permit it to dry 100%.
- Flippantly sand the workpiece with 120 grit sandpaper.
- Apply a second coat of paint and permit it to dry completely.
At this level, you’re going to have a fairly daggone spectacular workpiece – and that’s one thing to be pleased with. At any time when I do work like this, I at all times do not forget that, sometime, my family members will see my work and bear in mind how I attempted to do it completely – and that makes me pleased!
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My Ultimate Ideas About What to Do After Sanding Wooden
So, now that you already know a few of the hottest choices for what to do with sanded wooden, and learn how to sand it correctly, all you will have but to do is leap into your subsequent mission! Woodworking is enjoyable and rewarding, one of many more true actions that we will have interaction in, one thing rustic, genuine, and trustworthy.
Thanks very a lot for studying alongside, and I hope that you’ve got realized a factor or two that helps you in your journey as a woodworker. Keep in mind to at all times take your time. This ain’t no race!
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