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Hand Sanding often comes top of every woodworkers 'least favourite jobs' to-do list.
The common misconception is that hand sanding can only be a time-consuming endeavour - both tough on your palms and your arms...
However, there are in fact many different benefits to manual sanding over using a conventional power tool.
Woodshop Direct have put together our top #15 secrets to smoothing over your hand sanding issues today.
#1. Use a lower grit (40-60) for heavy sanding and stripping.
#2. Use a medium grit (120-150) for worktop and table wood finishes.
#3. Use a super fine grit (360 - 600) for smoothing and finishing before painting or staining.
#4. Sand with the grain to prevent tear-outs and to create a more perfect end result when staining and finishing.
#5. Wear ear, eye and breathing protection while sanding at all times.
#6. Change the paper regularly!
#7. Go finer and finer and finer with your grits to produce an ultra smooth surface.
#8. Let the sandpaper do the work for you. If you're changing the paper regularly, it won't require so much elbow grease and you'll get better results.
#9. Use light, even pressure when sanding.
#10. Using a sanding block will make sanding jobs easier and provide more consistent results. You'll also get through less sandpaper with a block!
#11. Remove any dust with a vacuum cleaner and wipe with a tack cloth before painting.
#12. Keep sandpaper tightly wrapped around the sanding block at all times.
#13. Wrap sandpaper in pipe insulation to sand curved surfaces.
#14. Use a low grit for fast, efficient, economic sanding of larger areas and use a finer grit to get rid of scratches.
#15. Sand in a well-lit area to shed light on scratches. Shine a lamp at a low angle to illuminate any ridges, flaws and imperfections.