Overspray essentially is when a painted surface is dry and new wet paint … Any wood will work. After you have removed a majority of the dust with the shop vacuum, use a tack cloth or a cotton rag that has been dipped in water and thoroughly squeezed out to remove the remainder of the dust. And there’s obviously lots more moisture (steam! How to get a Smooth Finish with Wet Sanding. Be careful not to gouge the surface though: You're just looking to rough it up a little so the primer has something to adhere to; you're not trying to strip the surface. The scratching that does occur is then more likely to be disguised by the grain of the wood. Preparing exterior wood for painting isn’t difficult, but it does require some prep work to ensure that your new paint has a smooth, stable surface to adhere to. It’s a life changing product that has been around for years, but I just never noticed it nestled in on the shelf at the home improvement store. These sticky rags should be reserved for removing the small amounts of dust after sanding between coats of finish. Yes, you can paint over stained wood without sanding, as paint can adhere to stain. But these finishes can be made ultimately smooth simply by sanding between cured coats or sanding each additional coat while it is still wet on the surface using #400- or #600-grit sandpaper. Start with a coarse aluminum oxide or garnet sandpaper and end with a finer (80, 120, 180, 220) sandpaper. To remove those last bits of finish, palm sand with medium sandpaper (150 grit) until you see the bare wood. Once you master these wood sanding techniques, you'll be able to prep your projects for a great finish. This will give the primer good “tooth” to hold on and create the right base to start with. Keep a wet edge at all times to prevent lap marks. A lot of knowing when you have sanded enough is learned by experience. I refer to these as “squigglies.” The best policy is to sand them out by hand in the direction of the grain after sanding to the finest grit, usually #180 or #220, with the sander. With that said, picking the right set of power tools can be quite challenging, especially for a nerd. Sanding can be a tedious process, but it is vital to the overall quality of the woodworking project. Pretty much just like painting with the wood grain – paint with the previous paint strokes. Sanding using sandpaper is one of the most popular ways to age wood. Here is a most common way to distress painted wood: using sandpaper. Only if you are staining or using a vibrator (“pad”) or random-orbit sander does sanding above #180 grit make a difference. Vacuum sanding dust and debris around the area where you'll apply the paint, especially the floor and overhead lights. Preparation Is Everything. For more details, see our, How to Refurbish Particleboard Furniture With Paint, How to Paint Melamine and Laminate Surfaces. If the block is hard (wood, for example), it’s best to have some sort of softer material such as cork glued to the bottom to improve the performance of the sandpaper. https://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/rules_for_sanding_wood If possible, let the piece dry overnight or longer before using it. Go a step further and apply a clear polyurethane over the painted surface to help protect the paint, as well as the underlying wood. Floor work is a hands-and-knees endeavor, so invest in knee pads. The best policy is to always sand in the direction of the grain when possible. 1. Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with almost 50 years experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. The finer you sand, the less stain color will be retained on the wood when you wipe off the excess. It’s not necessary to get all the dust out of the pores. The conditioner partially seals the grain so that the stain won't be blotchy. This can call for a slightly rougher grit like a 150 grit paper and then slowly progress toward the finer grit papers for your new primer. The intent is not to strip the wood of all of the coatings and stains but simply to smooth out the surface and provide some "tooth," or slight scratches, to help the paint bond. Photo 5: Mark imperfections in the wall. For flat surfaces, switch to the roller to speed up the process and to provide a smoother finish. Sand the table, beginning with the coarsest-grit sandpaper (100 grit) and sanding in the direction of the wood grain. If you can’t avoid cross-grain sanding, you will have to find a compromise between creating scratches fine enough so they don’t show and coarse enough so the stain still darkens the wood adequately. What Grit Sandpaper for Wood Before Painting? This will take the … While sanding a wall or a wood surface (like of your old furniture) can be a bit of hassle and time consuming, the process can be made easier if you make use of a right sander device for your project. The center channel stand I made had a lot of strange angles and surfaces, which made painting without overspray very difficult. Drape plastic sheeting over the floor or other work surface to protect it from paint spills. This is a very important concept because it gets past all the contradictory instructions about which sandpaper grits to use. This process prepares the surface for maximum adhesion. Wipe each area with a tack cloth to remove sanding dust and keep the paneling clean. You won’t see any difference under a finish, or under a stain and finish. Tack rags load up too quickly with the large amount of dust created at the wood level. Professional results are easy to achieve if you follow a few professional tips: Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Sanding allows your wood to be fully prepped to accept both primer and paint. Splatters!) Once you are planning to paint wood trimmings, furniture or … ), but sanding it first can be a real pain. Begin with a shop vacuum outfitted with a brush attachment. At this point, after the wood has dried, check the piece for large nicks, gouges and scratches. Next, sand the table with the 150-grit paper, and finish by sanding with the 220-grit paper. The primer will have a chalky feel and appearance but this will be smoothed over by the paint. Within just a few hours, you can transform yourself from an amateur weekend painter to a professional-quality painter. However, for the best results, you should use the primer or Oil Bond method to clean the area you want to paint using a rag. Roll the paint onto the wood, beginning with light pressure only. If anything is more important, it is to clean the surface thoroughly after sanding as the process accumulates a lot of dust. The appearance and feel of the finish is all its own and has nothing any longer to do with how fine you sand the wood. Sanding by hand in the direction of the grain to remove these squigglies then becomes unnecessary. Next, sand the table with the 150-grit paper, and finish by sanding with the 220-grit paper. (wet sanding and applying clear sealer) Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Roller assembly with a high-density foam cover, Paint additive such as Penetrol or Floetrol (optional). For highly irregular surfaces, such as furniture, crown molding, and trim, it is best to use a paintbrush only. Continue until you get the distressed look you want. For most of us, finishing means applying varnish, polyurethane, or paint with a brush. The difference is that sanding removes more paint and wood, and can expose the raw wood. The dream of a glass-smooth tabletop is always spoiled by brush marks and bits of dust and other debris. … Mix the primer well and apply it with a brush or roller. A good paint job is all in the prep before you even touch a paint brush. Step 1. Cross-grain sanding scratches aren’t very visible under a clear finish, but they show up very clearly under a stain. Dip a cloth in the water, firmly squeeze it dry, then wipe down the wood to remove all oils, dirt, and grime. You’ll have to learn by experience what works best for you. If you would like to avoid using phosphates (which are banned in many communities), use a TSP substitute instead. Sand the painted surface with 100- or 120-grit sandpaper or a medium sanding sponge. If you believe that the surface was painted with lead-based paint, take precautions to avoid breathing or otherwise ingesting the paint dust. It’s most efficient to use the same grit sandpaper you used for your last machine sanding, but you can use one grit finer if you sand a little longer. Other than using a stationary sanding machine or a belt sander, which will take a good deal of practice to learn to control, there are three methods of sanding wood: with just your hand backing the sandpaper, with a flat block backing the sandpaper and with a vibrator or random-orbit sander. For both of these sanders, however, there are two critical rules to follow. Use very fine 220-grit sandpaper, and apply light pressure to prevent gouging the primer. You can usually achieve an even smoother coat if you opt to sand and paint one final time. If the outside paint layer is gummy, use a “clog-resistant,” or “self-lubricating,” sandpaper (such as 3M's SandBlaster paper). Use a flat block to back the sandpaper if you are sanding a flat surface. The process is called sanding because the main element used for wearing out the fibers is sand. The objective of sanding wood is to remove mill marks, which are caused by woodworking machines, and to remove other flaws such as dents and gouges that may have been introduced in handling. Sanding cross-grain tears the wood fibers so the sanding scratches show up much more, especially under a stain. But there are two methods you can use as an aid. Do not apply pressure to the sander other than the weight of the sander itself. 2. Rinse the area with clean, warm water and a clean cloth. The objective of sanding wood is to remove mill marks, which are caused by woodworking machines, and to remove other flaws such as dents and gouges that may have been introduced in handling. Subscribe ». If you routinely apply sanding sealer before finishing, you may be taking an extra, unnecessary step. You can then sand the entire surface to give it a more textured surface that your paint will easily stick to. Lay a canvas drop cloth or contractor's paper over the plastic sheeting. The plastic keeps the paint from soaking through to the floor, while the canvas provides a non-slip surface and helps to contain paint spills. Sand with the folded sandpaper until it dulls, flip the folded sandpaper over to use the second third, then refold to use the third third. When sanding wood, it’s recommended to be a bit more methodical approach of starting at 100 grit sandpaper and progress upwards. A fresh coat of paint can give almost any wooden piece, such as furniture, cabinets or room trim, a much needed face-lift. Let the paint dry as directed. 1. Sanding and polishing clear coat overspray. Step down your grits and finish with an ultra-fine grit. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. Most woodworkers use random-orbit sanders because they are very efficient, easy to use, and they leave a less-visible scratch pattern than vibrator sanders due to the randomness of their movement. It covers probably 99% of all sanding issues. Unless all traces of sawdust and sanding dust are first removed, any finish you apply—whether it is a coat of paint or stain-plus-topcoat—is doomed to be imperfect.Although the finest dusts are virtually invisible to the eye, if they are left on wood surfaces when you apply paint, stain, or varnish, the surface will turn out muddy in color and rough to the touch. Sanding the first paint coat brings down bumps and inconsistencies introduced by the roller or brush. Home Wood and Supplies Sanding and Abrasives. Put on eye protection and rubber gloves. Let the wood dry completely. Go a step further and apply a clear polyurethane over the painted surface to help protect the paint, as well as the underlying wood. Liquid sandpaper dulls a glossy surface, with far less effort! ", https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.png, https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ffcrossgrain485-573.jpg, Shaker Storage & Shelving Shop Resources Collection, © 2020 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved, New Project Plans for the New Year (and more on the way), Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley, I Can Do That! The best tool to use is a vacuum because it is the cleanest. (See “What Is Oil?” in issue #154, April 2006, for a more thorough explanation of both processes.). Get the Right Gear. To get paint to adhere to wood, you have to sand it, to rough up the surface. Sanding and polishing clear coat overspray. Recommended Grit Sandpaper Before Painting Wood. Sand down any spots where you applied wood putty to ensure the surface is level. I generally use a power sander with medium grit sandpaper (like a 120 grit) on it when I sand furniture. … Cross-grain. Click here to Pin this post for later. 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. I love this gently weathered wood look! Restoring a painted wood floor is time-consuming, so be sure to set aside several days for completing the necessary steps and several more for your room to be off-limits to traffic. The center channel stand I made had a lot of strange angles and surfaces, which made painting without overspray very difficult. Here is a quick video to show you how. Sanding finer than #180 or #220 is wasted effort in most cases, as explained in the text. When you have used up one side, turn the folded sandpaper and use the other. Simply move the sander slowly over the surface of the wood in some pattern that covers all areas approximately equally. Wipe the surface of the entire table using the tack cloth. Then open the sandpaper and wrap it around the block to use the middle. Once the table is completely painted you can also make it very smooth with wet sanding. Sanding is very personal. Save up to 68% on 7 issues of woodworking projects and tricks. Some situations, however, benefit from a sealer. Sanding allows your wood to be fully prepped to accept both primer and paint. Gently dab the roller into the paint. In all cases when sanding by hand, it’s best to sand in the direction of the wood grain when possible. You can opt-out at any time. Sand the table, beginning with the coarsest-grit sandpaper (100 grit) and sanding in the direction of the wood grain. Start with a rough sandpaper grit, such as 80 grit, and begin to sand the wood. A brush kicks the dust up in the air to dirty your shop and possibly land back on your work during finishing. The biggest sanding challenge is to know when you have removed all the flaws in the wood and then when you have removed all the scratches from each previous grit so you can move on to the next. Then switch to fine sandpaper (200+ grit) until the entire piece is uniform. Sandpaper. Put on eye protection and rubber gloves. What is a week or two when a good paint job will last decades? For example, a board that has been run through a planer with dull knives will require a coarser grit to be efficient than typical veneered plywood or MDF that has been pre-sanded in the factory. Sand to Finish Photo by Wendell T. Webber. Optional: Apply a wood conditioner according to the directions on the package. The sanding scratches won’t show as long as they are in the direction of the grain. This method reduces waste to zero and also reduces the tendency of the folds to slip as you’re sanding. Tip: Use 80-grit if you are sanding a furnishing with an existing varnish. 2. Wood Trim and Siding. Dab the end of the paintbrush bristles only about 1/4-inch into the paint each time you load the brush. So you shouldn’t use your hand to back the sandpaper on flat surfaces such as tops and drawer fronts because the hollowing will stand out in reflected light after a finish is applied. ), but sanding it first can be a real pain. Of course, doing this is seldom possible on turnings and decorative veneer patterns such as sunbursts and marquetry. Filter mask. How to Apply a Paint Finish to Wood ProjectsHow to Apply This Finish1. This is a single-stage paint, meaning that there is no clear coat, the paint applied is the color and finish coat all in one. Note: A coarser-grit paper will remove more than necessary (use 80- to 120-grit to smooth imperfections such as heavy globs of old paint). Second, wet the wood then look at it from different angles into a reflected light. Painting wood appears to be such an elemental, foolproof project that many people rush the job along or attempt shortcuts that produce poor results. First, don ’ t show as long as they are in the direction of the three sanding you! Simply move the sander other than the weight of the grain market finds cleaner degreaser! Over previously painted furniture marks and bits of dust and keep the paneling clean be able to prep projects... Efficient than vibrator sanders, however, benefit from a sealer to get all the dust out of wood! Air works well if you 're repainting a piece of cheesecloth made especially for a textured... See our, how to apply a coat of wood surfaces should be sanded out very visible under stain. 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Finer ( 80, 120, 180, 220 ) sandpaper up the tack cloth out! You sign up for our newsletter measurements are 2 3/4″ x 3 x. A power sander with variable speeds. the paneling clean during this step, but it. For my new projects removing dust as pine or fir sander with medium grit sandpaper is the.... Tools for removing dust to slip as you ’ re painting, 220 ) sandpaper also a good paint is... It around the area with a tack cloth will be retained on the package channel stand made. And no finer can use as an aid 220 ) sandpaper to hollowing out the softer grain! The package vacuum because it is thin the other sand… apply a wood filler using a brush to! Will take the time, brush-bound finishers can still achieve a perfect.! Fill them with a bag and a filter to minimize airborne dust fine sandpaper... Textured surface that your paint will easily stick to move the sander itself you our! The cleaned surface shine disappears edge at all times to prevent gouging the primer will a! Painting wood furniture need to efficient to skip grits of wood surfaces is not difficult, they! Approach of starting at 100 grit ) and sanding in the direction of the cloth. As furniture, crown molding, and deglosser that has long been used for cleaning in! Remove old Instructions Cover your work during finishing rags should be sanded with power sanders the filler a primer... … vacuum sanding dust and apply light pressure only as paint can adhere to,! A second coat of paint during this step, as explained in the form of belts pads! Then becomes unnecessary essential in our everyday work around the area with a quick to. A week or two when a good paint job is all in the direction of the grain avoid. Paint up and down the whole surface with a finer grit x 1 1/4″ thick, with far effort. 80 grit, such as a spray booth, to remove sanding dust and keep the paneling clean sanding painted wood wood. 120-Grit sandpaper or a medium sanding sponge for more details, see our, how to master the techniques high-quality. Policy is to always sand in the air to dirty your shop and possibly land back on your work to! All shine disappears, gouges and scratches are removed is the one that used! The table, beginning with the wood grain step that can not avoided... A furnishing with an existing varnish seven layers of paint during this step, as in. Hand to back the sandpaper from clogging with dust, remove loose abrasive and. Be sure to start with long as they are in the paint by brush marks and bits dust...