Talked to a finish carpenter at my local supplier and he changed how I think about sanding grits

He told me he stops at 150 grit for stained cabinets because going higher closes the pores and the stain just sits on top. I've been going to 220 for years on everything and now I'm wondering how many jobs I messed up. Anyone else had to unlearn a basic step like this?

4 comments

4 Comments

blair_nguyen1mo ago

Gotta say I see it a little differently. Stopping at 150 is fine for pine or soft maple, but for hardwoods like cherry or walnut you're leaving tool marks that show right through the stain. I've had way better luck taking it to 180 or even 220, then hitting it with a quick wipe of mineral spirits before the stain goes on. That trick opens the grain back up without needing to sand more. @claire_grant34 I get what you mean about muscle memory though, I've definitely sanded a piece smooth and then had to rough it back up because I forgot the next step. But I think the "150 max" thing gets repeated too much without accounting for what wood you're working with.

logan5251mo ago

Wait, I saw a thing from a woodworking channel that said the same thing actually. The guy explained how higher grits like 220 and 400 actually burnish the wood fibers instead of leaving them open for stain to soak in. That really stuck with me because I remember making that exact mistake on a kitchen set I did about two years ago where the stain looked super blotchy and I couldn't figure out why. Now I try to stop at 150 or maybe 180 max for stain work unless I'm doing a clear coat where I want it smooth as glass. It's wild how much the little stuff can trip you up for years before someone finally points it out.

mary_nelson711mo ago

You ever think about how much time we waste just because nobody tells us this stuff early on? I mean, I was the same way, going to 220 grit without thinking twice because that's what I read in some old book from the 80s. But then I had this job where I was doing a curly maple desk and the stain came out looking like a muddy mess, patchy and weird. I stripped it three times before I gave up and called my buddy who does restoration work. He straight up told me "you're burnishing the wood, stop sanding so much." Now I use 150 for most stained work and only go higher if I'm doing a clear topcoat where I want it glassy smooth. The funny thing is, I still catch myself reaching for that 220 grit out of habit, like muscle memory from years of doing it wrong.

claire_grant341mo ago

Right, and now I have this constant internal debate with myself where I'm like, "ooh, 220 grit feels so satisfying to use" but then I have to slap my own hand away because I know I'll just end up with a blotchy mess and have to start over. It's almost like my fingers have a mind of their own when it comes to sandpaper, they just want to keep going until the wood feels like a baby's bottom even though that's literally the worst thing you can do for stain. The struggle is real when your muscle memory is actively sabotaging your finish.