Make sure to eliminate all ridges. Splatters!) It’s rarely beneficial to sand finer than #180 grit. But for those willing to take the time, brush-bound finishers can still achieve a perfect surface. Sanding pre-painted wood is done to both remove any loose and flaking paint, but also to scratch the surface, creating a 'key' for the new coat of paint to attach itself to the old one – this is especially important with gloss paint which has a very shiny surface and will need a good deal of sanding. The most efficient method of doing this is to begin sanding with a coarse enough grit of sandpaper to cut through and remove the problems quickly, then sand out the coarse-grit scratches … Sanding also removes burrs and rough spots in painted wood trim, such as baseboard moldings, and window and door casings. Next, sand the table with the 150-grit paper, and finish by sanding with the 220-grit paper. Also, make sure that the shop vacuum is fitted with a bag and a filter to minimize airborne dust. Conditions vary. A 40-80 grit sandpaper is the one that is used when you are sanding or removing stock... Understanding the importance of sanding. You can usually achieve an even smoother coat if you opt to sand and paint one final time. Citristrip: This wood stripper is an orange gel, best on furniture details and flat surfaces since it is thin. Once you are planning to paint wood trimmings, furniture or … Roll the paint onto the wood, beginning with light pressure only. Save up to 68% on 7 issues of woodworking projects and tricks. I love this gently weathered wood look! Let the sander’s weight do the work. The idea is to build up a thick layer of finish, then polish it smooth with fine-grit sandpaper. Pull the scraper in the direction of the wood grain, and use finesse and elbow grease to "rake" the paint away but not gouge the wood; Scrape until the remaining paint won't budge and you have nice, crisp (but not sharp) edges in the details of the wood. So you don’t want to begin with too coarse a grit because it will cause you more work than necessary sanding out the scratches. Clean the Wood Surfaces. Painting wood furniture has to be one of the best ways to transform it on a dime (hello, flea market finds! Vacuum up the dust. 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. Optional: Apply a wood conditioner according to the directions on the package. 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. For wetting the wood, use mineral spirits (paint thinner) or denatured alcohol. Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with almost 50 years experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. For highly irregular surfaces, such as furniture, crown molding, and trim, it is best to use a paintbrush only. Next, sand the table with the 150-grit paper, and finish by sanding with the 220-grit paper. Use very fine 220-grit sandpaper, and apply light pressure to prevent gouging the primer. 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). Plus, with the advent of paint-ready surfaces like drywall or of primed trim and casing, wood painting is slowly becoming a lost art. 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. 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. If necessary, fill them with a wood filler using a flexible putty knife. It would be a total waste of time and effort to begin with #80 grit on the pre-sanded veneered wood (and you would risk sanding through). Indeed, some have enough power to run a 36-grit floor sanding disc, which could save you from renting floor-specific sanding equipment when refinishing wood floors. 2. Here is a quick video to show you how. I used sugar pine because it is very light in weight. The different grits of sandpaper. Sometimes with vibrator and random-orbit sanders, sanding up to #220 grit makes the squiggly marks left by these sanders small enough so they aren’t seen under a clear finish. A lot of knowing when you have sanded enough is learned by experience. If you would like to avoid using phosphates (which are banned in many communities), use a TSP substitute instead. Oil and oil/varnish-blend finishes have no measurable build, so any roughness in the wood caused by coarse sanding telegraphs through. No matter which of the three sanding methods you use, always remove the sanding dust before advancing to the next-finer grit sandpaper. Liquid sandpaper dulls a glossy surface, with far less effort! When the wood is clean and smooth, use a latex-based primer especially made for exteriors to prepare the surface for a new coat of paint. Apply a coat of wood conditioner to open grained wood such as pine or fir. Getting the optical finished look whether it be with wood or drywall, … Sand with the grain to avoid ripping the wood fibres. Dip a cloth in the water, firmly squeeze it dry, then wipe down the wood to remove all oils, dirt, and grime. Continue until you get the distressed look you want. Wood Trim and Siding. Use a 1-inch brush to apply two to three coats that completely cover the wood surface, allowing the medium to dry to the touch after each coat. To get paint to adhere to wood, you have to sand it, to rough up the surface. ), but sanding it first can be a real pain. (I find the rubber sanding blocks, available at home centers, too hard, wasteful of sandpaper and inefficient because of the time involved in changing sandpapers.). Sanding allows your wood to be fully prepped to accept both primer and paint. You can opt-out at any time. The best tool to use is a vacuum because it is the cleanest. Sand All Surfaces to Remove the Shine. Put on eye protection and rubber gloves. Wipe the surface of the entire table using the tack cloth. Recommended Grit Sandpaper Before Painting Wood. Seven steps to a heavenly finish. Distressing painted wood is easy when you have the right tools. … ), but sanding it first can be a real pain. Just get the wood clean enough so you can’t feel or pick up any dust when wiping your hand over the surface. We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. Sand the Flat Areas. This will take the … It’s a lot easier doing this than sanding the wood through all the grits to #400 or #600. Sand the wood in flat, smooth areas of wood with a random orbital sander and 180-grit sandpaper, wearing a dust mask or respirator and hearing protection. Fine sandpapers range from 120- to 220-grit. 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. Within just a few hours, you can transform yourself from an amateur weekend painter to a professional-quality painter. Wet-Sanding. “The problem with sanding down to the wood is that it creates the potential for moisture to seep in or out of the wood,” says Chris. How to Apply a Paint Finish to Wood ProjectsHow to Apply This Finish1. Wait two days to allow the paint to dry completely. Sanding the first paint coat brings down bumps and inconsistencies introduced by the roller or brush. I really find them to be very helpful for my new projects. It’s a great alternative to sandpaper that provides that same “rough” surface for paint to adhere. If the outside paint layer is gummy, use a “clog-resistant,” or “self-lubricating,” sandpaper (such as 3M's SandBlaster paper). That said, in my experience thus far (at the time of writing this post my floors have been painted for four months), painting without sanding has worked just fine… Overspray essentially is when a painted surface is dry and new wet paint is sprayed indirectly and lands on the dry surface. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. 3. – Simple Woodworking Projects. In all cases when sanding by hand, it’s best to sand in the direction of the wood grain when possible. If you believe that the surface was painted with lead-based paint, take precautions to avoid breathing or otherwise ingesting the paint dust. But most of us sand more than we need to, so it’s often more efficient to skip grits. In fact, the finer the grit the wood is sanded to, the less color a stain leaves when the excess is wiped off. 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. After sanding, open up the tack cloth, bunch it up but keep it loose, then lightly run it across the surface. If you routinely apply sanding sealer before finishing, you may be taking an extra, unnecessary step. Paint becomes more durable after it fully cures. 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. Fine sanding. Tackle large, flat ares with a disc or orbital sander, and use a trim or palm sander on more delicate surfaces. Thoroughly remove the sanding dust from all surfaces. Apply a final coat of paint, using a brush and/or roller, as desired. Start with a coarse aluminum oxide or garnet sandpaper and end with a finer (80, 120, 180, 220) sandpaper. Hearing protection is essential when operating the oscillating sander. I’m not here to guarantee that you will have a great, or a horrible outcome painting your wood floors without, or even with, sanding. The most efficient method of doing this is to begin sanding with a coarse enough grit of sandpaper to cut through and remove the problems quickly, then sand out the coarse-grit scratches with finer and finer grits until you reach the smoothness you want – usually up to #150, #180 or #220 grit. Cross-grain sanding scratches aren’t very visible under a clear finish, but they show up very clearly under a stain. If anything is more important, it is to clean the surface thoroughly after sanding as the process accumulates a lot of dust. These sticky rags should be reserved for removing the small amounts of dust after sanding between coats of finish. Sand any bare wood to 120-grit and no finer. You should practice first on scrap wood to determine where this point is for you. To get the most efficient use of the sandpaper, fold one of the thirds-of-a-sheet in half along the long side and hold it in place on the block with your fingers and thumb. (I use this orbital sander with variable speeds.) Tip: Use 80-grit if you are sanding a furnishing with an existing varnish. Sand to Finish Photo by Wendell T. Webber. There are times that I will recommend sanding before painting. 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. This is also a good time to scrape any old, flaking paint off and to sand down old paint lines. At this point, after the wood has dried, check the piece for large nicks, gouges and scratches. Finer ( 80, 120, 180, 220 ) sandpaper another way. Is an orange gel, best on furniture details and flat surfaces by hand the. Down before painting painted furniture # 600 always spoiled by brush marks and bits of dust and a! Will help you distress wood with sandpaper extra, unnecessary step an amateur painter. Or 120-grit sandpaper or a medium sanding sponge to sand the painted surface with a sanding! 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