On Thu, 2 Dec 2004 12:28:16 -0500, "PME"
wrote:

You have to be very careful when sanding veneer with any type of power tool.
Usually the veneer is only a 32nd thick so you can go through it very
easily. When sanding, you are removing the scratches that were made by the
previous grit of sandpaper. I would sand by hand, start with 100 or 110
and go to 150. You may want to go to 180 but not 220. This will just start
to polish the surface and will make finishing more difficult.
Use a padded sanding block when you sand, with a cork bottom or a folded
paper towel even between the block and the sandpaper.



fancy veneer ply is usually sanded at the factory, so you can start
pretty fine. the coarsest I'll usually go on it is 120, and not too
much of that.

the exception to the rule about not sanding too fine is wet sanding
with oil. then you can go as fine as you want. sanding to 600 grit
with watco leaves a gorgeous surface.