Surface Preparation: Sanding Grits and Sequence
Surface preparation is the most important factor in a quality finish — no topcoat can hide poor sanding. Sandpaper grit number indicates abrasive particle size: lower numbers are coarser. The standard sanding sequence for furniture is: 80 grit (if heavy material removal is needed) → 120 grit → 150 grit → 180 grit → 220 grit (final sanding before finishing). Each successive grit removes the scratches from the previous grit — do not skip more than one grit. After final sanding, wipe the surface with a tack cloth to remove all dust. Always sand with the grain, not across it — cross-grain scratches are visible under any finish. After raising the grain with a damp cloth and allowing to dry, lightly sand with 220 grit (called de-nibbing) to knock down raised grain fibers. This step prevents the wood surface from feeling rough under the first topcoat. Power sanding with a random orbit sander (ROS) speeds up the process but always finish with hand sanding along the grain for final grits.