I quit rushing the sanding between coats

I always used to hurry through sanding between finish coats to save time. My pieces kept ending up with little bumps and rough spots. So I slowed down and started using 320 grit paper for a light pass every time. On a recent dresser, I gave each coat a proper sanding and wiped it clean. The final finish was so smooth you could almost see your reflection. It takes a bit longer, but now I never have to redo a piece. Guess sometimes the slow way is the right way.

3 comments

3 Comments

thomasperez3mo ago

That pro saying they spend more time sanding is totally true. I learned the hard way that rushing it just traps dust and makes bumps worse. Doing a proper pass with fine grit like 320 after each coat builds a level base for the next one. It's the difference between a good finish and a great one that feels smooth as glass.

leo_lopez3mo ago

Heard a pro say they spend more time sanding than finishing. Your post proves it!

gavin801mo ago

My 220 grit pass after the first coat changed everything, @thomasperez proved I was wrong about skimping on sanding.