Sanding Wood Table Top

Lower numbered grades denote.

Sanding wood table top.

Residue left in the grain lines of coarse grain wood will be trapped under the final coat and haunt you forever. A typical varnish and stain removal method is sanding. Sanding also creates a ton of dust and is a lot of work. Sandpaper grit size is important when sanding tables.

However we didn t want to sand the varnish off of this table because it was thick and doing so could remove too much wood and make the table top look uneven or imperfect. Be sure to clean it off completely. If you sand through the polyurethane and remove some stain you can touch up with more. Wipe the surface of the entire table using the tack cloth.

Next sand the table with the 150 grit paper and finish by sanding with the 220 grit paper. Sand the table beginning with the coarsest grit sandpaper 100 grit and sanding in the direction of the wood grain. The grade or grit of sandpaper is based on the number of sand granules per square inch of paper. As the table dries after wet sanding a white residue will appear.

The reason for sanding between coats is to knock down the swollen fibers to maintain a smooth surface. The higher the number the finer the grade. Staining the wood causes the wood fibers to swell as they soak up the stain. Tables are one of the most difficult surfaces to sand without creating swirls scratches or defects by using poor sanding techniques or materials.

Apply a wood conditioner according to the directions on the package.