Synopsis: Still using the same finishing product you started with 15 years ago? You may be missing a product that can save time and effort and give a better result. Professional finisher Teri Masaschi takes you through the products on the market, from new abrasives like Norton 3X sandpaper and synthetics that replace steel wool, to wipe-on finishes that protect better, and two-part epoxy sticks for fast repairs.

From Fine Woodworking #172

When it comes to finishing, woodworkers are creatures of habit: They find a finishing product that works, and nothing will convince them to try anything else. The product might be something the next-door neighbor recommended, or perhaps the helpful salesman at the hardware store said his grandfather swore by it. However, folklore and second-hand information sometimes can get outdated or be mediocre in the first place. In recent years, many new products have been added to the wood-finisher’s arsenal: Simply switching to these new materials while keeping the same methods of application will result in a better and sometimes faster finish.

Before using any of these products, make certain that you try them on a sample board. You should be doing this already, but I am always surprised by the number of woodworkers who use the kamikaze approach to finishing: spend 10 months building a piece and 10 minutes ruining it by using it as their sample board.

While building a project, save cutoffs to use for testing your finishes. Through this simple idea, you will get the best from these products and avoid much stress and disappointment.

Let’s start with abrasives. It seems as though nothing changes in sandpaper—the same old rocks glued to paper scratching off the wood. However, sandpaper has come a long way since the glass paper or garnet paper our fathers and grandfathers used.

The latest improvement is Norton’s 3X brand, which Norton claims cuts three times faster and lasts three times longer than traditional sandpaper. For once, the marketing slogan is close to being true. Compared with regular sheets of silicon-carbide paper, 3X paper loads up far less quickly, thanks to its stearate, or anticlogging, coating. The paper also seems to stay sharp longer and requires less pressure than other papers.

The 3X paper comes in grits ranging from 60 to 400, making it suitable for sanding bare wood as well as sanding between coats of finish. Although a little pricier than generic brands of sandpaper, the cost of 3X is well worth it because it saves time while sanding and achieves superior results.

For the full article, download the PDF below.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Zissner Seal Coat

Great as a sanding sealer, and as a final finish.

Buy at Amazon

Bahco 6-Inch Card Scraper

The size and thickness are what matter here. A consistent performer, this Bahco scraper is found in many shops we visit.

Buy at Amazon

Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander

The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.

Buy at Amazon