How to Sand Unpainted Oak Furniture
- 1). Load a pad sander with 120-grit sandpaper and set the sander to a random orbit (ROS) setting. Sand all surfaces of the furniture piece using the pad sander. Move the sander along the grain of the wood, wherever possible.
- 2). Sand narrow or tight spaces and complex shapes by hand, using a sanding block or sponge with 120-grit paper.
- 3). Sand large or flat surfaces again--lightly--using 150- or 180-grit paper. Do not use finer paper, because over-sanding will remove the softer, dark-grain wood and leave the surface with fine ridges that show up in the finish.
- 4). Remove dust created by sanding by using compressed air at a pressure of 90 psi or less. Pay particular attention to edges that have been cut across the grain. Use a tack cloth to remove any remaining sawdust.
- 5). Fill the soft, dark grain by applying oak grain filler, according to the package directions. This is especially important for tables, desks or any furniture with large flat surfaces. Grain filler reduces the tendency of the soft streaks to absorb more stain than the harder grain. Grain filler lessens color contrasts in the finish and creates a smoother surface.
- 6). Finish with stain and varnish, lacquer or shellac, as desired.
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