Looking to get into woodworking? Be sure to pay attention to sanding.  When it comes to woodworking, the difference between a professional-looking piece and a subpar one often comes down to the crucial step of sanding.  Sanding wood surfaces can significantly impact the quality of the final product, especially when it comes to staining and finishing. Let’s dive into the importance of sanding wood, pre-treating wood, applying stains and finishing coatings, and the pros and cons of sanding versus not sanding.  You'll find links to all the equipment and supplies we use at the end of this article.

Why Sanding is Essential for Wood Products

This was learned the hard way - Trust me.  Sanding is critical and serves several key purposes:

1. Smooth Surface: It doesn’t matter what wood product you are creating or using as purchased from a retail store, sanding it is essential to remove rough spots, splinters, and imperfections. It will provide a smooth surface for staining and finishing.
2. Even Absorption: Sanding ensures that stains and finishes are absorbed evenly, preventing blotches and streaks. This is especially true with less expensive woods where wood grains and knots will have a deeper uneven stain appearance if applied without proper sanding.
3. Improved Adhesion: A properly sanded surface allows finishes to adhere better, resulting in a more durable and long-lasting finish, which is what we all want in the end, am I right!?

How to Sand Wood

Now that we know sanding is super important, let's talk about how to properly sand our wood projects. 

1. Prepare Your Wood: Before sanding, make sure to prepare the wood surface to ensure the best results are achieved. Free the wood from dirt, dust and grease. Remove any staples or tags that may existing from the lumberyard or retail store.
2. Choose the Right Sandpaper: Select the appropriate grit of sandpaper based on the wood type and the desired finish. For most of our projects, we start with a coarser grit (100) and gradually move
   to finer grits (220).  Pro Tip: To help you know when sanding is finished, lightly mark your entire wood surface with pencil, then sand the surface until the pencil markings are removed.
3. Sand with the Grain: Sanding in the direction of the wood grain will help avoid scratches and achieve a smoother finish.
4. Use a Sander: Speaking for myself only, sanding is one of my least favorite tasks when it comes to woodworking! Although not required, using an electric or battery-operated sander will make this tedious task more enjoyable. They also help provide even pressure and help prevent gouging.
5. Remove Dust: After sanding, remove the dust with a tack cloth or shop vacuum. This is an essential step before applying any stain or finish to your project.

Applying Stain to Wood

When doing woodworking projects, you don't always have to use stain.  Some of the nicer wood looks beautiful without stain! Depending on the wood you're using, or if certain colors are desired for a specific project look, consider the following steps:

1. Apply Wood Conditioner: Applying a pre-stain wood conditioner before staining is an important step to prevent blotching, particularly with soft woods. This also helps to enhance the stain color and provide a smoother finish.  If you don’t plan to satin your wood, then use a sanding sealer before applying your final finish.
   
2. Choose the Right Stain: There are so many choices when it comes to stain!  There is oil-based, water-based and gel stains. Each have different results and should be selected based on the project and results you are trying to achieve.  Always test the stain choice on a scrap piece of wood to ensure the results are what you are looking to achieve.
3. Apply Evenly: Make sure to apply our stain evenly.  You can use a bristle brush, a foam brush or a clean cloth to apply.  Applying in a circular motion will help ensure that the stain gets into the smallest of crevasses in the wood.  Once you’ve applied your stain, use a clean cloth to remove any excess stain. This will avoid uneven coloring. It also avoids clumping when using gel stains.
4. Drying Time: Follow the drying time instructions based on your chosen stain. Allow the stain to dry completely before applying another coat (if desired) or moving to the final finish coat.

Applying Finish Coatings

1. Choose the Finish: By now, your project will look good, but without a finish coating, damage to your wood will start to show after use. Ever see those circle rings on tables after a hot coffee cup was placed on it? You can avoid this with a final finishing product.  Several options
   are available, depending on your project and desired results: polyurethane, lacquer, shellac, etc.
2. Application: Start with applying a thin, even coat and allow to dry. Follow the drying time instructions based on the finish you’ve chosen.  Next, lightly sand with a fine-grit sandpaper (220) and apply another coat. For a flowless finish, sand one more time and apply a third and final coat.
   

Pros and Cons of Sanding vs. Not Sanding

So, the question is: To Sand or Not To Sand?  Both have their pros and cons which depend on what you are planning to do with your project.

Sanding Pros:

• Ensures a smooth, professional finish.
• Improves stain and finish absorption.
• Enhances durability and longevity of the finish.

Sanding Cons:

• Much more Time-consuming.
• Requires additional tools and supplies.
• Creates dust, creating the need for proper ventilation and cleanup.

While skipping the sanding step might seem like a time-saver, the benefits of sanding far outweigh the cons. Sanding not only enhances the appearance of your wood products but also ensures that stains and finishes adhere properly, resulting in a durable, long-lasting finish. Investing the time and effort into sanding will pay off with beautifully finished wood projects that stand the test of time.

Until Next Time,

ShakeABerry Keepsakes

Links to Products

If you're thinking about doing some staining of your own, below are some links to what we use in our shop.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, we would never recommend a product that we wouldn't use.

Sanding Supplies:

 

Stain Applicators:

 

Wood Finishes:

 

 No Staining Recommendations:

 

Ready to take it to the next level? Try Engraving!  At ShakeABerry Keepsakes, we really bring wood to life with laser engraving. Below are some links to the laser engraving equipment that we use.

Laser Engraving: