"Mike Marlow" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Charles Spitzer" wrote in message
...


thanks. what if it is already flat? doesn't poly, or other oil finishes,
self-level pretty well?


Yes, but generally not smooth flat. There will typically be lots of
inconsistencies in the surface. Everything from brush strokes if you use
a
brush to differences from the lap if you spray it, or even orange peel.
Dust finds its way in sometimes and the less than perfect surface of the
wood will telegraph in the finish. All of this - or any of this adds up
to
a less than flat surface. Depending upon how irregular it is, you will
select a grit to take it down and then progress upwards in grit to be rid
of
the sanding marks. With sprayed finishes it's not uncommon to be able to
start no coarser than 1000 grit. Typically, you can go to 1200 or 1500
from
there and then to a fast rub with a rubbing compound for a mirror finish.
In essence, flat is what you want to define flat to be. For some, nothing
less than a mirror finish is flat. That absolutely calls for sanding.
--

I applied several (5?) coats of poly and then went right to the 2000. I'm
left with a pretty shiny surface that has some ripples in it that cannot be
felt, but can be seen if looking at reflected light at a shallow angle. It
is not strictly a mirror finish but it does feel like one to the touch. I'm
still not sure if a super shiny surface or a more matted one.

dwhite


-Mike-