Sanding is critical to creating a smooth surface. For wood that is going to be painted, use 120-grit, followed by 150-grit. For closed-grain woods (such as Cherry, Pine, Maple, Birch or Alder) that will be stained with water-based products use 150-grit followed by 220-grit.
Painting wood furniture has to be one of the best ways to transform it on a dime (hello, flea market finds!), but sanding it first can be a real pain.
Sand the Primer
Let the primer dry completely, then sand it down before painting. Use very fine 220-grit sandpaper, and apply light pressure to prevent gouging the primer.
For heavy sanding and stripping, you need coarse sandpaper measuring 40- to 60-grit; for smoothing surfaces and removing small imperfections, choose 80- to 120-grit sandpaper. For finishing surfaces smoothly, use a super fine sandpaper with 360- to 600-grit.
Use 60- or 80-grit for aggressive, fast wood removal. Use 100-grit for all-purpose sanding and 120 or 180 for the finest finish, but follow power-tool sanding with hand sanding. Power tools leave hidden scratches that show up later. And always sand parallel to the grain.
To prepare previously painted wood, strip off cracking, flaking, or chipping paint, sand the surface with 180-grit sandpaper, remove the dust, and wipe with a damp sponge.
Generally speaking, 30-grit and 60-grit papers are used for rough sanding, 100-grit to 150-grit sandpaper is for medium sanding, and 220-grit sandpaper is used for finish sanding. Of course, this changes with the type of wood and whether the sanding is done by hand or with a machine.
Coarse grits are typically in the 40- to 50-grit range. Medium sandpaper, ranging from 60- to 100-grit, accommodates some final shaping. Primary sanding of rough wood and the removal of planning marks on wood is often best done with medium-grit sandpaper. Fine sandpapers range from 120- to 220-grit.
If wood gets over-sanded in one spot, it starts to become uneven, with a distorted sort of appearance. This can happen to even the most experienced woodworker. Usually this starts simply by attempting to sand out a discoloration, defect, scratch or gouge.
The highest grit sandpaper is 1200-grit but this is not typically used on home DIY projects. In practical terms, the highest grade of fine sandpaper you would need is around 800-grit to 1000 grit sandpaper which would be ideal for final sanding and also for use prior to and during polishing.
#320 Grit: Ultra-Fine
With wood, ultra-fine grits usually are reserved for smoothing painted surfaces between coats. Many finer grits are used for wet sanding, which creates a fine, gritty slurry that complements the sandpaper's efforts at smoothing.
Begin by blowing the dust using an air compressor, vacuum the dust, or brush it off using a dust brush. Then, wipe the surface using a cloth dampened in either water or mineral spirits. You can also use a tack cloth to clean your sanded wood before staining.
Start by sanding your surface with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth any rough edges. Wipe down the sanded surface with a moistened towel to remove any dust or debris. If desired, base coat the surface, painting in the same direction as the wood grain; allow to dry.
Preparing bare wood for painting or staining correctly, is a must to ensure a beautiful long lasting finish. Wood knots, moisture & sap bleeding will affect the coating if not prepared properly.
It is recommended to start at the low grit end and work your way up to 800 grit. 1000 to 1200 Grit – When you need to remove base coat imperfections, this grit range will do the job. Be sure to use the wet sanding technique for best results.
The best way to get a clean surface, which is ready for staining or varnishing, is to use mineral spirits after sanding is complete.
3M 9 x 11 WETORDRY P320 50 Sheets - 320 Grit Sand Paper 02040.
The lower the number, the more coarse the grit. Sandpapers are commonly graded 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 above).
Garnet and Flint Sandpaper
Garnet sandpaper features a soft grit and wears out the fastest but produces the smoothest surface.
40 – 80 Grit: Coarse. 40 to 80 grit is used for heavy or rough sanding and to help remove scratches or imperfections. While it is okay to be abrasive, take your time when using a low-grit sandpaper because it may show noticeable scratches or swirls in the wood.
The higher the number, the finer the grit, and the less rough the sandpaper. Coarse sandpaper removes material faster but leaves deep scratches. Fine sandpaper removes less material and leaves a smoother surface. Grits can range between 24 for heavy material removal to 2000 and beyond for the gentlest sandpapers.
Our toughest wood paint can put up with everything kids and pets can throw at it. It's really easy to use and won't leave you with loads to clean up. Plus, it's touch dry in only 30 minutes so your wood won't be out of action for too long.