Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Feb 20, 2006 06:07am | #1

   If you can't sand without corning the sand paper I think stripping may be in order.  But be aware that you may face surprises when you get to the underlying wood, since part of commercial finishing is often designed to allow mis-matched wood to be pulled together.  It that end lots of toners and glazes tend to be used. 

   By the way, do the repairs before you strip the finish.  The old finish keeps glue from generating problems. 

    

    

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Feb 20, 2006 06:33am | #2

   Hi Steve,

   Thanks again for your insight.  Did the repairs today, haven't stripped/sanded the rest yet.  Good tip about leaving the existing finish on when making the repairs.  I was kind of thinking that too, remembering one of your posts to another question I had earlier.

   As for the mismatched wood hiding under the commercial finish (I know what you mean), I sanded a portion of the seat (with the grain) from front to back to check.  They must have matched these boards up as they look pretty good; either that or I just got lucky!

   The back splats are round and there is no other large area on the bench that would require edge gluing of boards, i.e. matching.

   The local Ethan Allen furniture factory donates culls furniture every year to support the local vounteer fire department, which they auction off to the public.  We usde to buy furniture at these but it has been overrun by dealers of late so prices have gone WAY UP.

   They also sell boxes of drawer fronts, sides, bottoms and backs, which I bid on as they are perfect for jewelry boxes (which I make), and the wood is almost exclusively cherry, hard maple or birch.  The dealers aren't interested in this stuff!  They also have other larger pieces (unfinished) that I keep an eye out for.

   Again, thanks for your help; will keep posted,

    Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   Use whatever tool needed to Git 'r Done!

2. 
   Ricks503 | Feb 23, 2006 04:00pm | #3

   On the sandpaper, some of the issue may be brand/type of paper.

   The Norton 3x clogs less than most.  For some stripping, I will somtimes use the open mesh wallboard sanding sheets.

   1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Feb 27, 2006 05:29am | #4

   Hi All,

   I have most of the bench sanded down/stripped of the Ethan Allen finish.  I'm having a problem getting into the small spaces between the back splats as well as the shaped/turned legs. 

   I have thought of gluing sandpaper to narroow pieces of wood but there must be a better way.  I also thought of using a detail sander, but have heard that these basically bite the big one. 

   Any suggestions as to how best to sand difficult to reach small areas?  Would rasps and/or rifflers be a way to go?

   Best regards,

    

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   Kidderville, NH

    

    

   Use whatever tool needed to Git 'r Done!

   Edited 2/26/2006 9:53 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres