"jerry" wrote in message
oups.com...
The rational behind this is to avoid leaving a non-compatible residue
on the finish, while getting the benefits of wet sanding. If you use
water, on a oil based finish, you might trap
some in an imperfection somewhere.

But before you try mineral spirits, consider the down side. It is
flamable.

The mineral sprits are as flammable as those which serve as a solvent in the
polyurethane, assuming that we're speaking of oil-based poly.

The rationale is that wet sanding keeps the finer grits cutting longer, but
they should be wiped and tacked thoroughly. Dry wipes ok, since the mineral
spirits evaporate rapidly.

Stearated open coat papers are available if you don't want full cutting.
The minimal soap that lubricates them dissolves in the next coat of finish.