So, you think you know how to sand, eh?

[@craigg9457]

I can't tell you how your calm voice and expert instruction has completely changed then way I work. The main takeaway I get from your videos is to slow down and pay attention to what I am doing with these potentially dangerous tools, and you accomplish this without crazy background music and distracting graphics. Thank You!

[@Wannabe-rockstar-fan]

Agreed!

[@jaymantisgaming]

yeah i agree. i've only just discovered this channel and my sawing/sanding etc has always been fast and aggressive. usually by the end of my project i'm sweating like a pig, cursing, swearing and shouting insults at the wood's momma haha. 'your mom was a fuckin tree!!' but stumbling across this guy, i think i need to slow it down and just enjoy the craft a bit more

[@abustamante2996]

Exactly.

[@abustamante2996]

Exactly thanks for your comments.

[@deejaudible]

I agree as well. I don't need someone screaming to get my attention. I can actually retain info from Stumpy and I already have issues with that.

[@dougrhess]

This guy is an excellent instructor. KZbin needs to provide an award for teaching exemplars.

[@AndyMelognoFernandez-po3ct]

Yes. Agree. In a digital world inundated with different level of knowledge people, and professionals, it would be great to have that somewhat more identifiable. This was really good. Makes you want to have 6hs of deep dive one each key moment of the video.

[@coreygrua3271]

I feel like I’m in a graduate level university course when I watch James Hamilton. He dives deeply, but explains the dive so clearly that even a neophyte like me can learn via his friendly and personal approach to Internet learning.

[@hosoiarchives4858]

I luh dis guy

[@catboy1672]

I have to tell you this. I have been selling sandpaper in many forms forms for 22 years. This video you made just blew my mind. It’s not necessarily the knowledge you implied it’s how you implied it. So straight forward and so understandable to non woodworkers. Unreal job, I am stealing some of your words to help my business. Huge new fan. You are awesome!

[@danl.4743]

It's always good to use flattery before stealing some words. You've done well there, sir.

[@montet202]

Sandpaper salesmen can be so abrasive.

[@68HC060]

I think James will forgive you, if you recommend his channel to your customers. ;)

[@terrysullivan1992]

Someone needs to look up imply.

[@TonyScandal]

@@terrysullivan1992 What are you implying?

[@giusepperesponte8077]

I like to sand. I like the way it makes your hand numb and I like watching the wood slowly get removed. I really find it to be meditative. Sanding is one of my favorite woodworking tasks. I’m not kidding. Getting a rough piece of wood to a smooth sanded texture is one of my favorite things.

[@rodshop5897]

Maybe I'm odd - I enjoy sanding. Feeling each layer become more even and smooth is a semi-Zen experience for me, and I'm really proud once I've created a very smooth surface.

[@Alleroc]

Same here. It's a messy process, sure, but it's incredibly rewarding as each level progresses.

[@Curtis86]

Amen brother. That's what sets us apart!

[@AuldViolin]

Oh sure, until your boss pushes 500 panels over to your bench and says make it fast, they have to be perfect and not one sand through.

[@rodshop5897]

@@AuldViolin Hard for the boss to do that in an engineering department...

[@AuldViolin]

@@rodshop5897 sure, I guess puffing out a rosewood jewelry box once in awhile is ok but in general sanding is the hardest job in any wood shop. In my next life I’ll stay in college so I can be an engineer.

[@derekfry1480]

When I watch these videos I realize that I know nothing. Thanks for doing these. They really help us beginners who don't have a master to teach us.

[@richardclowes6123]

And I thought I knew how to sand ! How naïve I have been. At the age of 62 I'm learning all over again ! Driving the wife mad because I'm now saying things like: "Stumpy says . . " or when she thinks she knows best: "Not according to Stumpy". That one really gets up her nostrils. . . . . just light hearted humour, while learning some 'game changing' stuff. Thanks for all your excellently presented tutorials.

[@dlouw7]

One thing I’ve found that also helps is ensuring you have good lighting. Ideally low angle/raking light either from windows or from an LED light. Imperfections show up while you can still do something about them.

[@MrHartApart]

THIS! Sunlight is your best bet, but hard side lighting *raking light is very good. There are mill marks you CANNOT see in shitty lighting, as I found out today but luckily caught it before it went to the paint shop.

[@nevinleiby]

Whoa. Sanding discs? That sounds life changing

[@danielfogli1760]

Yes, please, talk all day about sanding techniques 😍

[@kennywhyte5664]

Best Sanding video I've seen... thanks man...

[@95countach]

I'm a technical instructor by profession, but I'm nowhere as effective as you are at explaining something in a calm, friendly, logical, and easy-to-follow way as you. I thought I was going to learn a few "golden nuggets" of unknown information, but you opened my eyes up to so many considerations! I totally enjoy your videos and I immediately subscribed. Kudos to you for sharing your knowledge and experience.👏👏👏

[@THE_RAMALAMADINGDONG]

I'm currently 40 years old if I were to ask 20-year-old or even 30-year-old me if I ever thought I'd watch a video about wood sanding techniques or if that specific topic would ever seem interesting at any point in my future, I would have died laughing...... Yet here I am voice to texting a comment on that very same subject matter.... Not only that the information was delivered in such a concise manner I now feel compelled to look up this channel and dig deeper into the art of sanding wood....... I must say this seems like a rabbit hole from which I may never escape

[@easycrider7453]

Ive been a carpenter for over 40 years and a trim and finish carpenter for over 20. The one thingI like about it is there's always something to learn and projects to challenge ones self. I appreciate the sharing of your knowledge.

[@xqiuvmah]

The most sanding I've done on a project was in high school. I was in an engineering technologies class and the one project was to make a CO2 powered model drag car. We were given 4 weeks to build it and I finished the design and shaping after only the 3rd day. We weren't allowed to do anything else during class so I sanded that car up to 4000 grit. It was as smooth a glass when I was done. It also broke the schools record for fastest time down the track

[@Admiral7355]

Stumpy, I have to say that you are my "go to" source on woodworking. I really appreciate all that you do help us less experienced guys that who are just getting into woodworking. Thank you very, very much.

[@HowlinWilf13]

I don't like doing cutting lists, I don't like roughing out, I don't like machining, I don't like setting out, I don't like cutting joints, I don't like assembling, I don't like gluing and clamping, I don't like sanding, I don't like finishing, and I sure don't like sharpening, sweeping the shop floor and changing dust bags. But all together............. I love it!

[@perniciousreaper4393]

After lots of experimentation, I've settled on a rule of thumb of roughly doubling the final grit of my long grain when finishing end grain. I've found it gives me the most even match when staining. So if I finish the face at 180, I use 320 on the end grain. For 220, I use 400. Great video, there are some things I hadn't considered that I'm going to start adopting.

[@AndyMelognoFernandez-po3ct]

That part of the video on long grain and finishing grain required for me a deeper dive and several playbacks. Your shared tule will help me build some technique too. Thanks.

[@gellotion]

Possibly the best woodworking channel out here

[@shedengren]

So helpful. I love that you didn't just share what to do, but why. I knew some and definitely learned some. The light pencil pattern is genius.

[@toolreviewsandrestorations]

The next time I have some sanding to do I'll definitely rember your tips!

[@billdianesimmons2675]

I've been wood working for fifty years and your videos are excellent and so informative. Keep up the great work and thank you! ( You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. )

[@tontobb8956]

Stumpy on the job killed it. Great work

[@kerrygibbs8198]

I’ve been working with wood a long time. I feel I know more than my friends and family. BUT I do know 1/2 as much as you. Thanks for another video that took me to school. Lol

[@assessor6951]

You've just given new meaning to the phrase "Hand Finished". Love the bit about not pressing too hard. I'll stop doing that. Great tutorial.

[@TonyScandal]

I swear, I press down so hard that I have 6 broken sanders in a box (I keep saying that I will fix them). My "it cant be me" attitude has just been canceled.

[@g.fortin3228]

I never knew that tip for end grain! Thank you :- ) for making this vid !

[@amandajanemaddle-torres4037]

I am new to the sanding world but in three months I have fallen madly in love! I am a female in a very male-dominated warehouse and I have picked up skill fast but know I can be much better. I have absolutely made it my mission to be a sanding Superstar basically 😂 I think it is fascinating and a bit of magic and love the fact that each piece has different challenges and I see upwards of 100 pieces daily, EASY. I would enjoy to see some videos for an industrial setting that could include large pieces, both solid and veneer and moulding tips and tricks too! We make various pieces from raw wood examples include; refrigerator end panels, cabinets of all shapes and sizes, moulding, etc. we work with a lot of solid wood but some is just the veneer overlay that you showed in this video. We are sanding 60 hrs+ per week and at that rate I am worried about maintaining a good quality while also managing time to keep the production up to par. I'm a perfectionist with pride lol so I'm worried about what quality my team and I are sending to the next department for paint and stain. Thank you for the video I am so glad I found it and look forward to more!

[@BusterTheWonderDog2003]

As a complete novice, this was incredibly helpful and informative. Love the pencil idea - definitely trying this! Thanks so much 😊

[@daniellec2172]

why am I the only one who actually likes sanding? what's wrong with everyone? a rough board to something smooth and flat? This is like one of life's great pleasures.

[@McThumpenstein]

You are hitting it out of the park with your content lately!

[@bogdanmihai5338]

We can talk all day about sanding techniques.....sure WE can.... Don't get my wrong I would listen.....but not talk.... GREAT channel. Will watch everything you post!

[@wisenber]

Southerners must be better woodworkers as they never skip their grits.

[@ElTurbinado]

instructions unclear. sandpaper clogged with butter and cheese.

[@wisenber]

@@ElTurbinado That's not clogging. That's lubrication!

[@ElTurbinado]

@@wisenber lol. if i ever make a woodworking video i'll have to remember to slip "now, wet sand to 320 with butter and cheese" in without breaking a smile.

[@TonyScandal]

The amount of northerners who completely missed that joke....

[@brettking8663]

GitRDone Son! GO VOLS!!

[@Hotsauce-cj7kj]

Nobody you know likes sanding? Pleased to meet you. I thoroughly enjoy sanding.

[@brettking8663]

I love sanding. It's my way to destress. I enjoy the small and fine details

[@countrywoodproducts]

Never thought about sanding finer on the end grain. I often learn something new from your videos. I recently set up my own sawmill and wood shop. Am now making live edge furniture and gifts.

[@fv_Haymaker]

Wow. Now THAT was a comprehensive lesson. Going to require it for my wood shop class! Thanks!

[@JosVanWeesel]

As a beginner, this has to be one of.. no, THE best sanding video out there!

[@gilbertomanzanilla4333]

This guy way of teaching his ideas works like a charm. Ive been sanding bad for a while, but after his video ill be able to challenge it totally different.thatd why i never miss a video, lated but shorely.

[@bengraydon1157]

Wow. I've been working with wood since i was 16,and now,at 47,someone has finally explained sanding. thank you....

[@jjcnct]

This is perhaps the most well done and comprehensive video I've ever seen on any topic. You are a gifted teacher. Thank you.

[@mikeokeeffe6163]

Great video. No garbage. No boring stories. No lame humor. Just great information, presented intelligently. I also appreciate that you don't belabor every point. If I want something repeated, I can replay it. Thank you. Just subscribed.

[@PanEtRosa]

I appreciate how precise you are with your processes. It's always a relief to find someone whose mind works the same way. I did, however, do a double take when you said "no one likes sanding", because it's my favorite part of woodworking! So satisfying.

[@hishamhamdan2105]

Sanding is a big world.. Full of details.. A real woodwork must know sanding tricks.

[@geodesicmonkey]

I am new to wood working and enjoy sanding. For me it’s somewhat meditative and I learn a lot about what I did wrong on the project that I can hopefully learn from. Thanks for all the videos, such a wealth of knowledge!

[@drdangerouspenguin]

I'm refinishing a pine table and got here with the question "how do I know when to stop sanding?" I'm not a regular woodworker, but gosh your video makes me want to be!

[@AJ-ln4sm]

Project Farm recently did a great head to head comparison of quite a few sandpaper brands. It's worth the time to watch!

[@ThekiBoran]

For whatever reason he didn't include festool paper.

[@ryane6719]

@@ThekiBoran 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@ThekiBoran]

@@ryane6719 💩

[@ryane6719]

@@ThekiBoran lol, I was agreeing with you FYI

[@ThekiBoran]

@@ryane6719 It's so tiny I couldn't see it. I wrongly assumed you were somehow making fun of my comment. My apologies. Festool isn't perfect, I have issues with a couple of my festool tools but there are lots of festool haters out there.

[@brianzomorodi]

The details given in this video is what it takes to achieve the highest quality work. This is science of sanding. Thank you.

[@cswopeut]

Great video! I definitely learned a few things. I was taught the best way to conquer sanding was to avoid it as much as possible by hand planing 👍

[@MrMarkpeggy]

I totally agree 👍

[@misterdoctor9693]

I've been sanding in my shop for 15 years and I learned a ton here. Everyone acts like sanding is a job for the new guy with no experience, but it really does take skill to do it well.

[@misterdoctor9693]

Oh, and I do like sanding actually. Sometimes. On days when my head just isn't in the game and I don't want to pour over drawings and cut-lists, I love the opportunity to just put on an audio book and sand away. The pencil lines are the first thing I teach every new guy that passes through our shop.

[@KodiakWoodcraft]

Wow! The amount of sanding knowledge packed into this video is incredible. Thank you for making this!

[@huskey5371]

Holy cow man, i thought the video title was too bold, but i was wrong. Amazing information

[@raydriver7300]

You are so easy to listen to. As my French daughter in law taught me: I go to bed less stupid 🌞. Thanks for sharing

[@danl.4743]

But then you wake up and you're back to square one.

[@jolldoes1515]

J espère que tu feras un saut à Paris with your son and his fiancée!🇫🇷Si ce n’est déjà fait !

[@raydriver7300]

@@jolldoes1515 He worked in Frog pubs for a long time and lives 40 km North of Paris.

[@jolldoes1515]

@@raydriver7300 probably pontoise surrounding I left my town Paris close to 3 decades ago and live today in North America and can see Canada at the end of my street France has became harder I don’t know frog pub but I worked at France 2 TV station as a freelance video assistant .It hard everywhere but I m happier in the US 🇺🇸

[@raydriver7300]

@@jolldoes1515 It fascinates me that we can exchange messages in seconds over 6000 miles. My granddaughter was born in Pontoise so you are close. Look up the Frog and rosbif in Rue St Denis in Paris. He worked in the Frog and Rosbif in Toulouse before moving to Paris. I’m in the UK. Stay safe

[@jasondunlap6289]

Thank you for the great tips. You saved me countless hours of learning the hard way.

[@BobMuir100]

Wonderful wonderful wonderful, so much in that I have had to save to watch several times, note not enough at first viewing. Cheers Bob England

[@andreachinaglia5804]

Very informative video, let me give one more couple of tips. The first is that to sand properly we need a very good light source, it is crucial, and the sanded surface should be examined carefully with a raking light source, left over scratches that are invisible with a light source coming from above pop out as soon as you do it. The second tip is that it is perfectly correct to tell (min 12:00 ) to hand sand parallel to the fibers with your last grit, but I find more effective to power sand with the last grit and then to hand sand with the same grit, this way you have only to remove by hand scratches not parallel to the grain deep as much as the scratches you are creating, very fast, while removing by hand the scratches of the previous grit, much deeper, takes longer, it is counter intuitive as you add a step, but you get a better result, and quickly, adding the power sanding with the last grit before doing it by hand. Last thing, that is not for all the woodworkers and not for all the projects, is that to hand plane is way better and faster then to sand, I have cut the 80% or more of my sanding time when I begun to use a plane as my preferred way to sand, it is much more effective and fast, one quick pass with a smoother and you are ready to apply the final hand sanding with the chosen final grit. Planing gives also better results as you cut instead of scraping, so you don't fill the pores of the wood with saw dust, many times the final hand sanding gives me a worst surface compared to the one from the plane, but I have to do it to blend the planed surface with the spots that i could not reach with the plane. This implies to know very well how to hand plane, you have to be sure to take only really thin shavings and to don't create any tear out, but for those that have somehow mastered the hand plane use it is one of the very rare cases in woodworking when doing something with traditional hand tools is way faster and more efficient then doing the same work with power tools. I plane also the plywood, even the veneered one, if shavings of few thousands of inch are obtained there is no risk to cut trough the veneer and expose the wood beyond it. Take my last tip with caution, it can be done, but if it works or not is only depending on your hand plane skills...

[@robm9772]

how do you feel about the newer sanding "nets" that are becoming more popular? Personally I love them.

[@nightcatarts]

I've been using those Abranet pads for years & they are truly excellent. They even become smoother evenly as they wear out, so you can just use a single one in place of a couple of different sandpaper grades. Apart from dealing with really aggressive chip-out or glue removal, I'd not go back to paper or cloth backed stuff on the lathe now because the open mesh builds up so much less heat too.

[@jamesbroad4208]

Just goes to show that every day is a school day. I've sanded a million miles of timber ( oh the joys of a workshop apprenticeship and making a terrible brew) and I never got taught the end grain nugget.Great video and to think my wife shakes her head when she catches me watching woodworking vids. I'd probably look less guilty about some naughty internet search history 😋

[@jschlarb]

I love my 80 grit Duragrit block, it’s a great investment.

[@italianbirdvideos6190]

I love sanding. It's one of the points in time on a project where I can really see it coming together.

[@widgetball]

Do you ever start with a higher grit (higher than 80) for a touch up job? My dining room table is about 6 years old and has some dry, less smooth areas.

[@dcavidgomez2877]

Bought a Harvey ambassador and expanded my skill base after discovering your channel; thank you from Houston

[@lacarpenter31]

The reward for good sanding...is a good finish. Conversely, the reward for lousy sanding is a lousy finish. Good point about people putting their hands in places you can't see. The sense of touch is sharper than eyesight for most people. Thank you James.

[@danepoth1727]

Your videos are amazing. I’ve learned a lot from many different channels but you always explain the why? question so well. I love learning the proper way to do things with theory behind it.

[@Raggs89]

I now know 300% more about sanding than I did at first. The cool thing is I do happen to have a sanding project coming up so this was timely information, thank you!

[@monteglover4133]

I’m the odd man out I actually like sanding, it means that the project is nearly finished.

[@christianscustoms6429]

I don’t particularly like it all the time but I do find it nice time to listen to a podcast or get deep in thought

[@dieselmotorsni565]

I like it because its a really good feeling to be able to touch your project and it being smooth

[@paul756uk2]

I agree. It's the final stages and the point where you see all the hard workl come together. I find it quite therapeutic.

[@fergusontea]

Agreed! It's a part of the process. :)

[@KWW0321]

I'm the same, means I'm nearly done with the body work and on the way to paint!

[@ooofbabarey]

Awesome presentation! So clear, no-nonsense and fluff-free!!! Thank you :)

[@acwhit1593]

Never heard of you before watching this video. After 1 minute of watching I decided to subscribe!

[@AmaralTreeCareAgroforestry]

I’m a tree worker becoming a wood worker thankyou for your way of teaching. I’m Brazilian living in kauai aloha

[@Farm_fab]

Using dust extraction on a palm or mouse sander helps to extend the life of the sander as it pulls in more cool air, and doesn't rely on the sander alone to cool itself.

[@themarkfunction]

Still the most useful video on this whole channel, and I come back to rewatch often and share with others. Thank you very much!

[@mickblock]

I've been wearing snug-fitting cloth gloves when I hand sand. Much much less fatigue..

[@Avital4414]

Good tip. Which mask do you recommend?

[@mickblock]

@@Avital4414 Well the masks with the hair that sticks out wildly to the sides like Bozo work best for me, but everything beyond the gloves is just preference really.

[@Avital4414]

@@mickblock as clowns go, I think I prefer Crusty. But I do have nostalgia about Bozo.

[@McMinarav]

I'm a super duper novice working on my first shelving project with plywood. This video and your others like it have imparted the years of experience I've felt clueless without. Thank you for the great work.

[@gizmogremlin1872]

One time I found a pack of sand paper from a dollar store and figured why not. Well you would be far more productive to just use the dollar bill.

[@meatballsalad]

Well said, lol!

[@antoniolopes8776]

It happened to me too (well, with euro coins); the sandpaper had been manufactured in a certain big Asian country...

[@alejodavies]

Never worked wood in my life, nor do I have any set plans to do so, but I love these videos!

[@EM-fi2qg]

I had to laugh when this video popped up. I just picked up some diablo sandpaper and ready to sand for a project. Holy coincidence. 👍

[@_P0tat07_]

Watch the project farm video as well?

[@wtfthischannelshit]

@@_P0tat07_ LOL, yep!

[@EM-fi2qg]

Absolutely.

[@GenoLoma]

I just bought some more Diablo stuff yesterday too.. Got some 40 grit and 80 grit pads for my 125mm AEG (called Rigid in the US), these will compliment the 120,180,220,320 and 400 pads I got a few months ago. Having just looked at the Duragrit link, I'm nearing the $210US for the 7 piece set, but I have a wider range of grits with the commonly available Diablo stuff.. Also, I'd need to add 30% (plus shipping) to that $210 to get them sent to me in Australia.. So, Diablo it is.

[@EM-fi2qg]

@@GenoLoma Well, you can't go wrong with Diablo. Project Farm did the sandpaper shootout and it pretty much came out on top. 👍

[@DavidGraybeal-ld8sr]

Good video. Been a woodworker since I was 10 (built my first boat). Been a professional woodworker for o ver 40 years. Had a shop as large as a dozen employees, and have trained dozens. And, from that perspective, this is almost all excellent advice. My quibbles -- 1. About using your first grit in consistent, even, strokes... with NO bearing down or focusing on certain lower or rougher spots. I'd call that theoretically true, and the ideal approach. But in the real world... it really IS possible to bear concentrate on such areas - which, you're right, does compromis perfect flatness - and then ameliorate that compromise by 'feathering the divot. Feathering in taking larger and longer strokes with that same grit... so that a 'bowl' area becomes an area of long, gradual tapers. Yes, that's next level stuff, but deserves a mention at least. 2. Active dust collection IS ideal. But I never use it, as the hose can get cumbersome. Instead, I keep an air gun handy and occasionally just blow off the sanding disc. Never had the 'pigtail' problem. 3. It appears you are making a mistake that is one of my pet peeves with hook & loop pads. That is, setting a sander down with no disc attached. Doing so... esp. if is then slid around... and very esp. if it is accidentally turned on... will break of the fragile hooks. In the same way that bearing down and generating heat will compromise them. If you aren't actually making that mistake - I couldn't be dead certain from the video - that danger should at least be mentioned. I NEVER allow a sander to be set down or put away sans disc/paper. Thanks for your good work!

[@gpilot7024]

I always enjoy learning something that I thought I already knew but didn’t. Thanks for the sanding techniques especially about proper pressure of the orbital sander, I also wonder how you have a Dewalt sander, but have a Festool hose fit? Do you have a special adapter?

[@StumpyNubs]

I normally use a Mirka sander and Festool extractor, but I didn't want people thinking you needed a $600 sander to get good results :) The hole just happens to fit the Dewalt. It goes inside the port instead of over the outside.

[@deniseboyce3752]

Just so you know, you've rocked my world. I'm an old lady DYIer that bought a 90 year old house which I'm slowly restoring. I have about 220 sf of T&G with about 12 coats of horribly applied paint to sand off including the ceiling. I spent about a day wasting my time trying to sand and only accomplished about 9 sf. I was so disheartened I was thinking about giving some guy 1500 bux to do it. Then I found your video on how to Properly sand....wowza. After watching and using your tips I'm flying through this job. I love the pencil idea and the slow even passes because it keeps me in the zone and I can see my progress which makes it seem less harrowing. lol Today I did all the walls up to my last grit of 220 which I'll be able to finish tomorrow. So THANKS a MILLION!!! If ya got some tips on sanding a ceiling without breaking your neck let me know!!!

[@danieldurand5721]

Use a 1/3 sheet pivoting sanding head on a long extension. One tip on an old house with horsehair plaster, whether it has had wallpaper that has been stripped off any repairs and the cream has been broken on the surface. Go to your local paint store or stores and look for any light colored mis- tinted latex paint. Paint the entire surface you don't have to be super careful with the edging and cutting. Once you have painted if you can use a large with taping knife to knock off all the nibs of the sand in the horsehair plaster. The rubberized effect of the latex paint stabilizes the surface. If you try to repair horsehair without doing this or even trying to skim it with drywall coating you will drag the Pebbles around and make it a much more difficult job. Once the painting is done and you've scraped it with the knife then do your repairs with the drywall mud or the 45-minute Kwikset. Hope this helps.

[@matthewwright57]

I hate using 80 grit paper, I always endeavor to have my tools do a good enough job to be able to start with 120 grit.

[@adama1294]

That's true if you have a planer and jointer but not everyone has them. Rough lumber can definitely use the 80 if you don't have those tools.

[@Schises]

Thank you so much for the instructions! Excellent audio and production overall. Absolute gold! 👑

[@Alysuis]

need some googly eyes on that orbital sander

[@fooglez]

Just want to say thank you. Started wood working after realizing I enjoyed it a lot as a child. Lots to learn as I just fooled around as a kid.

[@basilayish3689]

You promised I would learn something new and you delivered! I like the idea of a carbide disk for 60 grit, reducing pressure on the sander, and jumping up grits by 50%. A couple of things you might talk about next time: when to change the sanding pad, how to clean the buildup in sand paper (maybe with an eraser?), and cleaning an orbital sander.

[@joewrosenthal00]

Duragrit only makes 40, 60, and 80 grit sandpaper. The other grits have been discontinued. But those remaining grits are my “Go-To” sandpapers. Great video: Thanks!

[@karenseale9372]

So nice to see a video by someone who sounds like he really knows what he’s talking about! Thank you!

[@allabouttheclassics9522]

I always feel I owe it to the tree to make the finish look and feel as good as I can. Time/patience are the main investment in my wood working. Sometimes just want to leave it without a coating, when it is sanded so beautifully

[@hi_wifi_guy]

You and Steve Ramsey are the two best instructors of the woodworking craft on KZbin IMO. This is an excellent video, thanks very much!

[@Mike-bh7sh]

A great video. I would agree with about 98% of what you said. Before watching some of the "woodworkers" on youtube I didn't even know that anyone thought it was fine to go directly from random orbital sander to finishing. In our refinishing/restoration show we ALWAYS hand sand before finishing.... and we rarely go higher than 180 on the wood - though I will go to 220 for table tops. You COULD go directly to finish from a mechanical sander, but you would need to sand to like 320 - 400 (i.e. so fine that the swirls, and they are still there, aren't noticeable). In my opinion, it isn't worth the trouble. The only places I would leave without a hand sanding would be table undersides and other places no one will see. If you notice antiques were not cleaned up or even finished on unseen areas - because they weren't going to waste time and materials doing it. It is only with the advent of modern finishing machines that we see backs and undersides being cleaned up and finished - because it is much faster and costs are lower (not that you would think so with lumber prices). And YES - about extra fine sanding on end grains. It seems very few people realize this. The end grains absorb much much more stain then the long grains do - resulting in much darker wood. You can presoak the end grains. So say I'm using an oil based stain. If I soak the end grains with paint thinner, less stain can soak in, preventing darkening. You can also pre-seal end grains by using thinned shellac or a sanding sealer. This will simply partially seal the end grains and prevent the stain from over soaking in. I do prefer to just sand to a finer grit since, in my opinion, it just looks better. My personal method is to mechanically sand to one grit higher than I actually want to be at. Then I drop back 1 grit for hand sanding. This means I am not actually doing much hand sanding because my hand sanding grit is going to go deeper than an swirls left from the one grit higher. I do disagree about raising the grain and then doing a sanding with your final grit. You will still need to do a bit of sanding with your final grit. If you are going to pre-raise your grain by dampening it - do it after ALL your sanding and then only lightly go back over it. ONLY enough to knock the nibs off. The reason is, that layer of wood you raised the grain on is very thin - as in just the surface. If you aggressively sand it at all, you will cut through to fresh wood and the grain raising would need to be done again to have any effect. About marking the wood with a pencil as a signal you've sanded enough... Maybe, but I'm not sure. The scratches from, say 80 grit, are well below the surface. The pencil marks are only on the surface. So if you only sand until you get through the pencil marks have you really removed the previous scratches? I generally have a feel for how long I need to sand... but it is an interesting idea - I will need to test it with raking light and see if it works. Just a thought - if you are planning to stain the wood... You can make checking the surface for swirls or cross scratches by use raking light and wet the surface using a rag with paint thinner. Wetting the surface with paint thinner will not raise the grain, and will soak into cross scratches and swirls more - making them slightly darker. Also - raw wood with paint thinner wiped onto it will let you see what the wood will look like with a clear finish.

[@jaymacpherson8167]

The pencil technique is an awesome recommendation to evaluate highs and lows on the surface.

[@jhirn2957]

I have actually learned to enjoy sanding. I’m still a beginner, perhaps encroaching I’m on novice so take with a grain of salt, but the solitude sanding affords I’ve found tricked myself into enjoying. It’s laborious, dusty, and less fun than cuts or assembly but if you can fool yourself into enjoying sanding, it can be rewarding.

[@RussellStClair-cy1vu]

1 . Carpenters sand to 120 . 2. Leave the Finishing to the Finisher . 3 . Never prep sand for any finish beyond 150 . (The color is it's own math ) 4. Sanding beyond 180+ depending on lumber (handrubbed is wet sanding, different ballpark). Reduces adhesion , absorption ,adsorption and cohesion . ( Don't argue with the Finisher ) 5. Overall good presentation .

[@soujrnr]

What an absolutely transformative video on sanding!! I have been doing is mostly wrong forever. I learned so much in these short 14 minutes, and for that I am eternally grateful! I KNOW applying these principles will help me up my game. As a rank amateur, the ONLY direction I can go is up at this point, and I'm looking forward to trying these principles tomorrow as I begin the project I'm building for my wife for Christmas!! I am VERY excited to see how much better it will turn out by using these great techniques!! Thank you so much!

[@leonsiric398]

Great and informing advices!👍 Best regards to You from sunny Croatia!🇭🇷

[@kage7772]

I'm a novice and I've learnt so much in this video. Please make more videos to share your experience. Maybe videos on different grades of wood, conditions, say if it's rough sawn vs wet. Treated pine vs untreated vs hardwoods. Thank you!

[@MichaelPace2.0]

My wife and I are gonna make/install our own butcher block countertops soon. Going to rely on your videos a lot! 😁

[@OregonOutdoorsChris]

That was a 14min well spent! Gained a bunch of knowledge I didn't previously have.

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

And here I was thinking that my orbital sander is rubbish because I didn't get the outcome I expected. Actually, it was my sanding technique that was rubbish. I can't wait to do a little practice run with all that I've learned here. Oh, and yeah, time to buy that dust extracting vacuum that I've been thinking of getting soon. Soon is now much sooner. Thanks for sharing.

[@godamid4889]

I love sanding. By hand. I find it very therapeutic for some reason. A very amateur hobbyist here - loving the channel, it's very easy to understand for a home handyman.

[@reneechimenti8759]

I have spent many many hours watching videos about all tips and tricks for refinishing wood. But your videos are without a doubt the most thorough and are easy to understand. Please make another one on more sanding techniques. I have liked and subscribed to your website. Going forward, YOU are my go to for all things woodworking. Thanks a million

[@zacharymaneja1207]

The visual of the scratches really sold the idea