Cutr op de Houtpro+ beurs 1 t/m 4 november | Bezoek onze stand 1311 in hal 1 en ontdek de laatste ontwikkelingen.
5
min read

Choosing the right sanding level for your desired finish

Written by
Manon Hijmans
Published on
April 8, 2022

Why sanding?

Sanding is an important part of every wood project. Sanding takes a lot of time, while your results are often much less visible than with a saw or router. Nevertheless, sanding is essential to complete the wood project. In this blog you will read more about how sanding actually works, which grit you should choose and about the choice between manual or machine sanding.

What is sanding?

Sanding actually makes the wood feel smoother by roughening all wood fibers equally. You do this roughening by rubbing sandpaper manually or with a machine over your project. The grains on the sandpaper act as a kind of cutting tool (just like a saw blade). There are sandpapers with different grain sizes. The smaller the grit, the smaller the scratches, the smoother the surface feels.

Choose the right grain

Sandpaper is graded based on the number of abrasive particles per square inch that make up the sandpaper. The lower the number, the coarser the grit. Sandpaper is classified as Coarse (40 to 60 grit), Medium (80 to 120), Fine (150 to 180), Very Fine (220 to 240), Extra Fine (280 to 320) and Super Fine (360 and up). Sanding with progressively finer grits removes the scratches from the previous sanding and ultimately produces an increasingly smooth finish.

You may be asking yourself, "Why can't I just sand the whole project with Superfine sandpaper?" Well, you may, but coarse sandpaper will remove material faster and if you use finer sandpaper afterwards, it will be quicker and easier. And as almost any experienced woodworker will tell you, the faster you finish sanding, the better.

Below is a table of the different grit sizes and what they are often used for.

Sanding by hand

Hand sanding gives you the most control over the final shape of the wood surface. You can reach corners and recesses that a machine cannot reach or get in between. For flat surfaces and sharp edges, always use a sanding block. Using a sanding block, you apply even pressure to your workpiece. This prevents your sandpaper from gathering or slipping. When sanding curves or forming a rounded edge, instead use the softness of your hands to create a satisfying curve. Always maintain a steady pressure and sand with the grain, not against it. Never use sandpaper to remove things like pencil marks or dried glue. By doing so, you run the risk of unwittingly altering the shape of your project.

Sanding with a sander

It's not mandatory, but for large surfaces, an electric powered sander is definitely going to save you a lot of time and effort. The electric sander makes wood smooth quickly and evenly, without leaving any marks. An advantage of sanding with a machine over manual sanding is that many machines can be equipped with an extractor. This saves a lot of dust in your workplace.

Sanding before finishing with varnish, lacquer or paint

Sanding not only makes the wood smoother, it is also important if you want to finish the wood afterwards. Sanding "roughens" the surface, making the finish stick better. In addition, sanding between coats smooths out any bumps or protrusions so you're left with a super-smooth, professional finish. The smoother the surface is sanded, the smoother the coat of finish will be. If you are applying multiple coats of lacquer, always sand in between the coats as well.

Sanding MDF

Even though MDF already feels quite smooth, it still needs to be sanded with very fine sandpaper. This is because MDF is made of composite wood with resin. It is therefore somewhat greasy. If you do not sand this, the paint will adhere very poorly. Therefore make sure that you degrease the MDF before sanding. The ends and other processed parts of MDF must in any case be properly sanded, because this is often rougher.

Conclusion

Sanding can be time consuming, but it is a fundamental part of the woodworking process and necessary if you are applying any sort of finish to your wooden parts. For the optimal result, consider which grain size is right for the type of wood you are cutting and the desired finish of your project.

The Woodworker’s Word

Gain access to expert guidance on your woodworking manufacturing processes. Get valuable tips, knowledge articles, and inspiring success stories straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Upload your CAD file.
Get a quote.
All within 12 hours.

There’s no other wood manufacturing partner in the world that can get you a quote as fast as we can. And we guarantee it’s 100% accurate, too.

Knowledge
5
 min read

Choosing the right sanding level for your desired finish

For the best finish of your wood project, sanding is essential. Learn more about how sanding exactly works, what sandpaper is best to use, and about manual versus machine sanding. Here's how to choose the best finish for your CNC project.

Manon Hijmans
March 31, 2023

Why sanding?

Sanding is an important part of every wood project. Sanding takes a lot of time, while your results are often much less visible than with a saw or router. Nevertheless, sanding is essential to complete the wood project. In this blog you will read more about how sanding actually works, which grit you should choose and about the choice between manual or machine sanding.

What is sanding?

Sanding actually makes the wood feel smoother by roughening all wood fibers equally. You do this roughening by rubbing sandpaper manually or with a machine over your project. The grains on the sandpaper act as a kind of cutting tool (just like a saw blade). There are sandpapers with different grain sizes. The smaller the grit, the smaller the scratches, the smoother the surface feels.

Choose the right grain

Sandpaper is graded based on the number of abrasive particles per square inch that make up the sandpaper. The lower the number, the coarser the grit. Sandpaper is classified as Coarse (40 to 60 grit), Medium (80 to 120), Fine (150 to 180), Very Fine (220 to 240), Extra Fine (280 to 320) and Super Fine (360 and up). Sanding with progressively finer grits removes the scratches from the previous sanding and ultimately produces an increasingly smooth finish.

You may be asking yourself, "Why can't I just sand the whole project with Superfine sandpaper?" Well, you may, but coarse sandpaper will remove material faster and if you use finer sandpaper afterwards, it will be quicker and easier. And as almost any experienced woodworker will tell you, the faster you finish sanding, the better.

Below is a table of the different grit sizes and what they are often used for.

Sanding by hand

Hand sanding gives you the most control over the final shape of the wood surface. You can reach corners and recesses that a machine cannot reach or get in between. For flat surfaces and sharp edges, always use a sanding block. Using a sanding block, you apply even pressure to your workpiece. This prevents your sandpaper from gathering or slipping. When sanding curves or forming a rounded edge, instead use the softness of your hands to create a satisfying curve. Always maintain a steady pressure and sand with the grain, not against it. Never use sandpaper to remove things like pencil marks or dried glue. By doing so, you run the risk of unwittingly altering the shape of your project.

Sanding with a sander

It's not mandatory, but for large surfaces, an electric powered sander is definitely going to save you a lot of time and effort. The electric sander makes wood smooth quickly and evenly, without leaving any marks. An advantage of sanding with a machine over manual sanding is that many machines can be equipped with an extractor. This saves a lot of dust in your workplace.

Sanding before finishing with varnish, lacquer or paint

Sanding not only makes the wood smoother, it is also important if you want to finish the wood afterwards. Sanding "roughens" the surface, making the finish stick better. In addition, sanding between coats smooths out any bumps or protrusions so you're left with a super-smooth, professional finish. The smoother the surface is sanded, the smoother the coat of finish will be. If you are applying multiple coats of lacquer, always sand in between the coats as well.

Sanding MDF

Even though MDF already feels quite smooth, it still needs to be sanded with very fine sandpaper. This is because MDF is made of composite wood with resin. It is therefore somewhat greasy. If you do not sand this, the paint will adhere very poorly. Therefore make sure that you degrease the MDF before sanding. The ends and other processed parts of MDF must in any case be properly sanded, because this is often rougher.

Conclusion

Sanding can be time consuming, but it is a fundamental part of the woodworking process and necessary if you are applying any sort of finish to your wooden parts. For the optimal result, consider which grain size is right for the type of wood you are cutting and the desired finish of your project.

Conclusion

Sanding can be time consuming, but it is a fundamental part of the woodworking process and necessary if you are applying any sort of finish to your wooden parts. For the optimal result, consider which grain size is right for the type of wood you are cutting and the desired finish of your project.

Visit

Was this helpful? Great!

Upload your next design on Cutr now.

Featured Articles

The latest news, technologies, and resources from our team.

5 min read

Join our pilot to scale your sales

We are excited to announce a unique opportunity for European furniture and product designers to partner with Cutr and our international marketplace partner for a pilot project. 
Knowledge
5 min read

What’s the best type of varnish for your wooden project?

Unsure which varnish type you should use for your wood projects? This blog post explains the different types of varnishes available and how they affect the look and durability of the wood, so you can choose the right varnish for your parts!
Knowledge
5 min read

How do I choose the best finishing type for my wooden parts?

Did you ever wonder which finish type would be best for your wooden parts? In this article, you can read everything about each type of finish, including its benefits and drawbacks.
Knowledge
5 min read

How furniture makers can optimise furniture production lines

There are many things furniture makers need to consider when producing a new furniture line. It starts with the way they draw, but also material and production planning is crucial, as well as controls of the final product.
Knowledge
5 min read

How wooden interior projects can be manufactured and finalised 3x faster

Wooden interior projects often aren’t delivered on time. With all the financial consequences that might entail. Below, we explain how you can get your interior projects finished up to 3x faster.
Knowledge
5 min read

How yacht builders can produce prefab interior of the highest quality

When building yachts it’s often necessary to create custom-made wooden interiors. But which challenges do yacht builders face? Let us take you along into the world of custom-made (prefab) yacht interiors.