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Beginner's Guide to Woodworking

Basic Sanding!!

You may have noticed that as we've move along, we have not only been talking about Tools for the Workshop but also some Accessories needed for those tools to operate. Without one, the other is of no use. So far we have mentioned <Bits for the Drill,> <Blades for the Circular Saw> and <Blades for the Sabre (Jig) Saw.>

On the previous page we were talking about Sanders. And the accessory for the Sander is sand-paper. As a Beginner, you may not be aware of the different grits of sandpaper. There will be different sizes and types as well, but you should easily understand which size and type is needed based on the Sander you have purchased.

Sandpaper is inexpensive to buy. Generally for woodworking, you may use grits ranging from 100 - 240  (medium to the finest grit). It's common to use several grits to get the smoothness one desires. Whichever Grit you begin with, a rule of thumb is to go in multiples of 20 until you've reached your desired smoothness.

A basic guide you can use as a Beginner is: 100 -120 to remove minor imperfections, 140-180 to fine sand bare wood and 220-240 grit in between coats of stain and finish. If or when your workpiece shows no scratches or minor flaws, start with 140 grit and sand up to 180 which is standard for most woodworking. The last grit should be hand-sanded using a <sanding block>. When applying stain and sealer, always sand lightly between coats, using 220 grit and your hand only (no sanding block). However, if you prefer to use shellac, varnish, or lacquer on your projects, you'll need to use much higher grits than what has been discussed here.

A brief explanation of each Sander and its use:
 
  # <Belt Sander:> Used mostly for heavy duty sanding and removal of stock.
  # <Pad Sander:> Used mostly on wide flat surfaces for medium to lighter sanding.
  # <Orbital Sander:>  Mostly used for fine sanding prior to hand sanding.
 
In any Amateur Workshop, you will likely find all three of those hand-held Sanders. At some point, they could be in yours!!
 
 
 
 

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