On Mar 2, 7:47*pm, "SBH" wrote:
Awhile ago the question was asked about sandpaper grit for finish work.
Though the general consensus agreed upon the small range of grit, one
question I was wondering when sanding to stain and finish is to use a sander
or do it by hand? Is one method better than the other, other than
eliminating tired arms? If using a sander, what type is best?

Thanks

When it comes to finishing, opinions are like elbows (did I say
elbows?), and everyone has at least one.

Here's my take. Sometimes ( I can hear the screams now!) hand sanding
isn't the best solution.

How can that be?

When you sand, you will not be able to completely control the bite of
the paper, nor the motion of your arm. With some stains, just a
little arc in your sanding motion, sometimes just one stroke, and you
will see the cuts in the wood.

A good sander will take care of that if used properly. I am not
talking about one of those cheap ROS guys, but a nice half sheet
sander that orbits in tiny little circles. I have also seen nice
sanding done with the Festool sanders, but they don't fall in the
"cheap" category.

To stain, I will sand to a higher grit than I would just finishing
since the stain will open the pores of the wood a bit more. I go to
320.

Make sure that whatever grit you choose, change your paper often, and
sand every piece to 320 with the method of your choice. I personally
have had the best success staining before assembly, although that
isn't always possible or practical.

The other aspect to consider when staining soft woods such as soft
maple, pine, cherry, etc., is to use a pre-stain conditioner. These
are available pretty much everywhere, and there are even some good
homemade recipes made with white glue and distilled water.

Check it out:

http://woodworking.about.com/od/fini...onditioner.htm

If you have a chance, try a gel stain. I love those as you can tone
them easily for custom colors and they are very forgiving when you
apply them.

Good luck, and remember to practice your color and timing on a piece
of scrap, not your project!

Robert